Scientific Name:
Allium cepa
Pronunciation:
AL-ee-um SEE-puh
Common Name:
bulb onion, spring onion, shallot
Family Name:
Amaryllidaceae
Plant Type:
Biennial, Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Bulbs mostly clustered with papery covering, white to brownish or reddish; leaves cylindrical, linear; umbels spherical, densely flowered on peduncle up to 1m tall; florets stellate, pedicels 3-4 times as long as the tepals which are 4-5mm long and greenish-white.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.4 - 0.7m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Origin:
Central / west Asia
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Urban agriculture
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Brown
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute, Attenuate
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Umbel
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
6 tepals
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown, Black (seeds are black)
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Bulbs
Pest Susceptibility:
Diptera - true flies, Rust (Pest resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (FEA) Field lab Equipment Area : cv. Walla Walla