Wild Onion
Allium ascalonicum
- Native to:
- Egypt, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, Türkiye
Wikimedia: No machine-readable author provided. Charles P. assumed (based on copyright claims).
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Genus:
- Allium
- Species:
- Allium ascalonicum
- USDA Symbol:
- ALAS2
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 50 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, purple
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Lemon cuckoo (Bombus citrinus), Red-belted bumble (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble (Bombus affinis), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Xylocopa sonorina Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) Moths:Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli) Butterflies:Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, beneficial insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Typically propagated vegetatively by division of bulb clusters rather than seed. Seeds germinate readily at 15-20°C if produced.
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Seeds begin to ripen in early July in Colorado. They are collected when the inflorescence begins to dry and turns black. The plant grows in dry to moist soil in valleys, open hillsides, ridges and can be found in mountain elevations as high as 9000 feet.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Seed viability < 1 year for cold germinators except for A. cristophii