Scientific Name:
Allium ampeloprasum
(Porrum Group)
Pronunciation:
AL-ee-um am-pul-OP-RAY-zum
Common Name:
leek
Family Name:
Amaryllidaceae
Plant Type:
Biennial
Key ID Features:
Onion-like biennials but varieties grown for stems may lack distinct bulbs; leaves sheathing, linear and gradually narrowing down to the fine tip; 2-3cm wide near centre; umbels on peduncles 30-1.2m tall, florets tightly clustered, urn-shaped.
Habit:
Arching, Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa, Central / west Asia, Europe (Naturalized in many countries)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Urban agriculture
Additional Info:
Google. Three Groups in species: Porrum (leek - grown for their tasty stems), Ampeloprasum (grown for their mild garlic-like bulbs), and Kurrat.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Urceolate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Violet, Purple, Pink, Red
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
6 tepals
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot, Mildew, Root rot, Rust, Slugs or snails (Pest resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
