Practical
Plants

Allium fistulosum

Welsh Onion

a member of the Allium genus in the family Alliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Alliaceae
Genus
Allium
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.2 m
Fertility
Bees, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible[17].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Bulb - raw or cooked[7]. A strong onion flavour, it can be used in salads, as a cooked vegetable or as a flavouring in cooked foods[22, K]. The bulbs are rather small, perhaps 25mm in diameter, and are sometimes used as spring onions[6]. A nutritional analysis is available[12]. Leaves - raw or cooked[7]. They have a mild onion flavour[6] and can be added to salads or cooked as a vegetable[2]. The leaves are often available all through the winter if the weather is not too severe[K]. They contain about 1.4% protein, 0.3% fat, 4.6% carbohydrate, 0.8% ash, some vitamin B1 and moderate levels of vitamin C[4]. Flowers - raw. A pleasant onion flavour, but they are rather on the dry side[K].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bulb is antibacterial, antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic, galactogogue, stomachic, vermifuge and vulnerary[3][12]. It is used in the treatment of colds and abdominal coldness and fullness[3]. A tea made from the roots is a children's sedative[12]. Use of the bulb in the diet impedes internal parasites[12]. Externally, the bulb can be made into a poultice to drain pus from sores, boils and abscesses[14].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antifungal
Product or use
Antipyretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles[8].

Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
E. Asia? The original habitat is obscure.
Habitat
Not known in the wild.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed germinates over a wide range of temperatures, it is faster at higher temperatures[11]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. When well-grown, the plants should be ready to be planted out in the summer. If they are not large enough at this time, grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring. Division of the plants is very easy and can be done at almost any time of the year though the spring is probably best. The divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant[10], it prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil[1] but tolerates most soils[1][15] including those that are damp and acid[10]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 to 7.5[11], but it tolerates a pH in the range 4.9 to 7.5. A very hardy species, it is related to the cultivated onion (A. cepa) and could be of value in breeding programmes. It is sometimes cultivated in the garden for its edible leaves which can be produced throughout the winter if the weather is not too severe[K]. A very popular cultivated vegetable in the Orient[11], it probably arose through cultivation from A. altaicum[10]. The oriental forms of this species, known as bunching onions, tend to be hardier and more robust than the welsh onion[11]. There are two basic forms, multi-stem types and single-stem types. The single-stem types divide less freely than the multi-stems[11]. Plants will often retain their leaves even when covered in snow[11]. They are also tolerant of high temperatures and can be grown in the tropics[11]. The plants are often eaten by slugs[K]. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply[1]. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants[10]. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes[5][8][16]. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other[9]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00

    ↩

  3. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  5. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  8. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  9. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩

  10. Davies. D. Alliums. The Ornamental Onions. Batsford 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7134-7030-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  12. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  14. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  15. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩

  16. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  17. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

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