Allium hookeri 'Zorami' (Hooker chives 'Zorami')

Botanical name

Allium hookeri 'Zorami'

Other names

Hooker chives 'Zorami', Hooker's onion 'Zorami'

Genus

Allium Allium

Variety or Cultivar

'Zorami' _ 'Zorami' is a bulbous perennial forming a narrow clump of erect, flat, linear, edible dark green leaves and sturdy, slender stems bearing round umbels of white or greenish-white flowers from midsummer into autumn.

Foliage

Deciduous

Fragrance

Scented leaves

Habit

Erect, Clump-forming, Erect flower stem

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Colour

Flower

White, Greenish-white in Summer; White, Greenish-white in Autumn

Foliage

Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Slugs

Specific diseases

Onion rot

General care

Pruning

Deadhead or cut back after flowering.

Propagation

Sow in a cold frame in spring. After germination, grow seedlings under glass for the first winter and plant out in spring. Division is best in spring but can be performed throughout the growing season.

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Allium hookeri 'Zorami' (Hooker chives 'Zorami') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.2m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Flavouring food and drinks, Cottage/Informal, Bees (attract & feed bees), Beds and borders, Architectural, Add to salads

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, but well-drained soil in sun. Add grit to clay soils to improve drainage.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, East, West

Exposure

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

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Allium hookeri 'Zorami' (Hooker chives 'Zorami')

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 #2

Plant name

Allium hookeri 'Zorami' (Hooker chives 'Zorami')

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 #3

Plant name

Allium hookeri 'Zorami' (Hooker chives 'Zorami')

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/