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Botanical Name: Allium roseum
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Tribe: Allieae
Genus: Allium
Species: A. roseum
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asparagales
Synonyms:
*Molium roseum (L.) Fourr.
*Nectaroscordum roseum (L.) Galasso & Banfi
Common Name: Rosy garlic
Habitat :Allium roseum is native to the Mediterranean region and nearby areas, with a natural range extending from Portugal and Morocco to Turkey and Palestine. It is cultivated widely, and has become naturalised in scattered locations in other regions outside its natural range.
It grows on grassland and gravelly places near the sea.
Description:
Allium roseum grows naturally to about 18 inches (46 cm) high in well-drained soils, and in Europe blooms from late spring to early summer.
The inflorescences of A. roseum are umbels. The loose, fragrant florets are about 3 inches (76 mm) long, having six pinkish to lilac tepals.
The smell and flavour of the bulb is powerful enough to drive squirrels and browsing deer away from gardens, where they are planted as ornamental flowers. For this reason, they are suitable as companion plants to tulips and similar specie.
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It is not frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, insects.Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Cultivation:
Easily grown in a warm sunny position in a light well-drained soil. Only hardy in the milder parts of Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. A very ornamental plant. There are several named forms. The sub-species A. roseum bulbiferum produces a few sterile flowers and many bulbils on its flowering stem. This form will probably spread freely and perhaps escape from cultivation. The sub-species A. roseum roseum does not produce bulbils. Both forms produce numerous bulblets around the base of the main bulb. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.
Propagation:
Seed – sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle – if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division in spring. Very easy, the plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season and the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required.
Edible Uses:
Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Root.
Bulb – raw or cooked. A garlic substitute, it is used as a flavouring in salads and cooked foods. The bulbs are 10 – 15mm in diameter. Leaves – raw or cooked. A mild garlic flavour, they make a nice addition to salads and can also be used as a flavouring in cooked foods. Flowers – raw. Used as a garnish on salads, they are very attractive and have a pleasant mild garlic flavour. Bulbils – raw or cooked. Very small and fiddly to use, though they have a pleasant mild garlic flavour.
Medicinal Uses:
Although no specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system.
Other Uses: Repellent…….The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles
Known Hazards: 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.
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_roseum
http://www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Allium+roseum
