GARLIC CHIVES
Allium tuberosum
LILY FAMILY (Liliaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - July, August, September, October, November
- Rare in garden at Camp Brewster
- Narrow strap-like leaves
- Showy white ball of flowers with 6 "petals"
Allium tuberosum, an introduced perennial plant, grows from a small, rhizomatous bulb. It has strap-shaped basal leaves up to 1/4 inch wide unlike either onion or garlic. It produces a single leafless stalk from 1-2 feet tall bearing many white flowers in a round cluster (umbel). Clusters may contain up to 50 showy flowers with 6 tepals (identical petals and sepals). It grows in slowly expanding perennial clumps, but also readily sprouts from seed.
This plant is originally from Asia but widely cultivated and naturalized. A. tuberosum is currently reported to be found growing wild in scattered locations in the United States and is believed to be more widespread in North America because of availability of seeds and seedlings of this species as an exotic herb and because of its high aggressiveness. This photographed specimen was found at Camp Brewster in front of the main building where was most likely planted. It has not been seen elsewhere at Fontenelle Forest.
This plant has a garlic like flavor and odor.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Neal Ratzlaff.