Ornamental onion
Allium schubertii · Amaryllidaceae
📷 Simone · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Bulbes et feuilles peuvent endommager les globules rouges des chiens et surtout des chats ; le risque dépend de la quantité ingérée, crue ou cuite.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant ornamental onion: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Type
- Perennial bulb
- Adult height
- 50 cm
- Flowering
- May to June
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Hardiness
- Hardy (-15 °C)
- Origin
- Middle East (Israel, Palestine)
- Edibility
- Yes, bulbs and flowers edible
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Plant in full sun in dry, well-drained soil. Wait for the foliage to dry out before watering: what weakens Allium is summer moisture.
The common mistake
People water after flowering thinking they're helping the bulb mature—but moisture prevents the bulb from resting properly, leaving you with few flowers next year.
The pro's trick
Don't cut back the foliage while it's still green: that's what recharges the bulb.
Care
Exposure
Schubert's garlic thrives in full sun, ideally 6 to 8 hours per day. Bright exposure ensures generous and colorful blooms. Plant it in an open area, away from tree shade.
Watering
Water moderately after planting, then reduce drastically once the plant is established. Bulbs fear stagnant moisture and rot. In dry climates, a few waterings during the growing season suffice; otherwise, let it dry between waterings.
Soil
Choose well-drained soil, neutral to slightly alkaline, ideally gravelly or sandy. Heavy and compact soils should be improved with gravel or coarse sand. Schubert's garlic tolerates even poor and rocky soils.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is rarely needed, except on very poor soils. A bulb fertilizer or balanced fertilizer applied in spring is sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen, which promotes foliage at the expense of flowering and seed production.
Pruning and cutting
Remove spent flowers if you wish to prolong the bulb's life. However, leave some flower heads to set seed for prolonged ornamental effect. At season's end, cut the dried foliage to ground level.
Health and pests
Schubert's garlic is highly resistant to disease. Whiteflies or aphids may occasionally affect it, especially if you overwater. Excess moisture exposes the bulb to rot: ensure perfect drainage.
Did you know?
Schubert's garlic stands out for its compact ball-shaped flower head made up of tiny pink to purple flowers, evoking a botanical firework display. Native to the semi-arid regions of the Middle East, it was long cultivated for its edible bulbs before being appreciated as an ornamental flower in Europe. Its botanical name honors the 19th-century German botanist.
Where to buy it
Plant the bulbs in autumn for spring flowering. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from September to November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- RamsonsAllium ursinum
- ChivesAllium schoenoprasum
- Sand leekAllium scorodoprasum
- Elephant garlicAllium ampeloprasum
- OnionAllium cepa
- Belladonna lilyAmaryllis belladonna
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.