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Black Garlic Ornamental Onion

Allium nigrum

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Black Garlic Ornamental Onion (Allium nigrum) at Homestead Gardens

Black Garlic Ornamental Onion in bloom

Black Garlic Ornamental Onion in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  12 inches

Flower Height:  4 feet

Spread:  12 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Other Names:  Flowering Onion

Description:

Striking creamy globe flowers emerge from thick strappy green foliage; attracts butterflies; plant close together for a massed effect or plant futher apart among lower growing plants

Ornamental Features

Black Garlic Ornamental Onion features bold balls of lightly-scented creamy white flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its fragrant sword-like leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Black Garlic Ornamental Onion is an open herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Black Garlic Ornamental Onion is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Vertical Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Black Garlic Ornamental Onion will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 4 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Articulation  Massing  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Texture  Plant Form  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features