This variable bulbous perennial may be solitary or clustered with upright foliage forming a clump and is commonly grown as an annual. It has hollow blue-green cylindrical leaves and the small white star-shaped flowers appear in a globular cluster in spring.

Hardiness zones 3 to 10

Allium cepa is thought to be naturally found in Central Asia and was derived from Allium oschaninabut has been cultivated for thousands of years and now appears throughout the world with a numerous variations available. It is commonly found on disturbed soil adjacent to areas where it is been cultivated and can grow from sea level to an altitude of 4,400 m (14,436 ft).

It prefers an open sunny wind protected position and grows in well-drained organic rich moist sandy to clay loam that Is neutral tending acidic with a pH range from 5.6 to 7.5. It is frost and mildly drought tolerant and is deer and rabbit resistant.

Common Onion is grown for its edible bulbs and foliage and is one of the oldest edible cultivated plants. It is grown in vegetable or herb gardens or commercially on farms. It has also grown in pots and tubs or commitment in roof gardens and even window boxes.

It is suitable for coastal or mountainous regions and establishes in one season and is a widely cultivated as a biannual in North America, Europe and Asia. ID 3085

Allium(AH-lee-um) cepa(KEP-uh)

Alliaceae(AH-lee- AY-see-ee)
Onion family