Allium lusitanicum (Portuguese allium)

Botanical name

Allium lusitanicum

Other names

Allium 'Summer Beauty', Ornamental onion 'Summer Beauty', Ornamental garlic 'Summer Beauty', Allium senescens subsp. montanum, Allium angulosum 'Summer Beauty', Allium lusitanicum 'Summer Beauty', Portuguese allium, Mountain garlic , Allium senescens 'Montana'

Genus

Allium Allium

Species

A. lusitanicum - A. lusitanicum is an upright, clump-forming, bulbous perennial with strongly aromatic, linear, mid-green leaves and sturdy, hollow stems bearing dense, rounded umbels of purple-pink to pale pink flowers in summer

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming, Erect flower stem

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Colour

Flower

Pale-pink, Purple-pink in Summer

Foliage

Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Pest free, may suffer from slugs on new growth.

Specific diseases

Onion rot , Downy mildew

General care

Pruning

Deadhead regularly. If desired, remove leaves only after they have completely died down.

Propagation

This species forms a weak bulb on a rhizome. Lift and divide rhizome clump in spring.

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Allium lusitanicum (Portuguese allium) will reach a height of 0.4m and a spread of 0.3m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

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

Cultivation

Plant bulb (with rhizomes) at or just below the soil surface in spring in fertile, well-drained soil in sun. Benefits from light afternoon shade in areas with hot summer. Tolerates a wide range of soil types. Add grit to clay soils.

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

North, 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, Zone 5

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Allium lusitanicum (Portuguese allium)

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 lusitanicum (Portuguese allium)

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 lusitanicum (Portuguese allium)

Common pest name

African cottom leafworm; Cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton worm; Mediterranean climbing cutworm; Meditteranea Brocade; Tobacco cutworm

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera littoralis

Type

Insect

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

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

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/