Allium aflatunense (Ornamental onion)

Botanical name

Allium aflatunense

Other names

Ornamental onion, Persian onion

Genus

Allium Allium

Species

A. aflatunense - A. aflatunense is a clump-forming, bulbous perennial with strap-shaped, mid-green leaves and erect, slightly ribbed stems bearing dense, spherical umbels of star-shaped, purple-pink flowers in summer.

Native to

Central Asia

Foliage

Deciduous

Fragrance

Scented leaves

Habit

Erect, Clump-forming

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Colour

Flower

Purplish-pink in Summer

Foliage

Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Leaf-mining sawflies

Specific diseases

Onion rot , Powdery mildew

General care

Pruning

Deadhead to prevent self-seeding. Do not remove leaves until they have completely died down.

Propagation methods

Offsets, Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Allium aflatunense (Ornamental onion) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 0.1m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Architectural, Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Underplanting

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in sun. Plant in autumn 5-10cm deep. Add grit to clay soils to improve drainage.

Soil type

Chalky, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Allium aflatunense (Ornamental onion)

Common pest name

Asain cotton leafworm; Cluster caterpillar; Fall armyworm; Rice cutworm; Taro caterpiller; Tobacco budworm; Tobacco caterpillar; Tobacco cutworm; Tobacco leaf caterpillar

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera litura

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Allium aflatunense (Ornamental onion)

Common pest name

allium leaf miner

Scientific pest name

Phytomyza gymnostoma

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Pest of Allium already present in UK and spreading; previous consultation supported awareness raising only; industry should prepare for the event of findings in commercial crops.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Allium aflatunense (Ornamental onion)

Common pest name

Nematode; common spiral; Spiral nematode; Steiners spiral nematode

Scientific pest name

Helicotylenchus dihystera

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Nematode pest unlikely to be very damaging in its own right; but used as a an indicator species to assess compliance of soil requirements of imported plants to be kept under review in light of EFSA evaluation of soil requirements.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/