Allium moly
Back to Previous Page
Tried and True Recommended by 4 Professionals
Common Name: golden garlic
Type: Bulb
Family: Alliaceae
Zone: 3 to 9
Native Range: Southern and southwestern Europe
Height: 0.75 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 0.75 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Leaves: Fragrant
Wildlife: Attracts Butterflies
Tolerates: Black Walnuts, Deer
Uses: Cut Flower, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun, but appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Best in rich, sandy loams. Plant bulbs in fall. Plants will naturalize by both offsets and self-seeding, and a modest planting of bulbs can colonize an area rather quickly in optimum growing conditions. Not considered overly aggressive, however. Deadhead flowers before seed sets to help control any unwanted spread.

Noteworthy Characteristics

This flowering onion is an ornamental onion which is noted for its star-shaped, 1/2” diameter, bright yellow flowers which appear in loose clusters (umbels) atop leafless stalks (9-15” tall) in late spring and its flat, tulip-like, blue-green, basal leaves (to 2” wide and 12” long) which appear in 2s. All parts of this plant have an oniony smell when cut or bruised, however this plant is generally considered to be a non-edible ornamental. Also commonly called lily leek and golden garlic.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Rock gardens, border fronts, cottage gardens or naturalized areas. Particularly effective when naturalized or grown in wide drifts.

Similar Plants


Allium schoenoprasum
Back to Previous Page