Allium giganteum explained

Allium giganteum, common name giant onion or giant leek, is an Asian species of onion, native to central and southwestern Asia but cultivated in many countries as a flowering garden plant.^{[1] [2]} It is the tallest species of Allium in common cultivation, growing to 1.5m (04.9feet).^[3]

In early to midsummer, small globes of intense purple umbels appear, followed by attractive fruiting umbels. A popular cultivar, 'Globemaster', is shorter (80cm (30inches)) but produces much larger, deep violet, umbels (15cm-20cmcm (06inches-10inchescm)). Both varieties have been granted the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^{[4] [5]}

In nature, the species is found in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.^[6] In cultivation in the US, it performs well in USDA hardiness zones 6–10.^[7]

Eating flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea due to the sulfides they contain.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Regel, Eduard August von 1883. Gartenflora (1883) 32: 91
2. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/18403373 Tropicos, Allium giganteum Regel
3. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282192&isprofile=1&basic=Allium Missouri Botanical Garden: Allium giganteum
4. Web site: Allium giganteum Royal Horticultural Society . 2012-06-13 . 2014-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140326163324/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=95 . dead .
5. Web site: Allium 'Globemaster' Royal Horticultural Society . 2012-06-13 . 2014-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140326163946/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=97 . dead .
6. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:528087-1?name_id=295629 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
7. Web site: Allium giganteum (Ornamental Onion). 2021-07-09. Gardenia.net.
8. Web site: Allium giganteum (Giant Ornamental Onion, Ornamental Onion) North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. 2021-07-09. plants.ces.ncsu.edu.