Create Your Garden

Allium nigrum (Ornamental Onion)

Flowering Onion, Black Garlic, Allium Multibulbosum, Black Garlic, Broad-Leaved Onion, Spring Bulbs, Spring Flowers

Allium Nigrum, Flowering Onion, Black Garlic, Allium Multibulbosum, Black Garlic, Broad-Leaved Onion, Spring Bulbs, Spring Flowers , White Flowering Onion, White Onions, Late Spring Bloom, Early Summer Bloom
Allium Nigrum, Flowering Onion, Black Garlic, Allium Multibulbosum, Black Garlic, Broad-Leaved Onion, Spring Bulbs, Spring Flowers , White Flowering Onion, White Onions, Late Spring Bloom, Early Summer Bloom

Despite its name, Allium nigrum is a white flowering onion, featuring creamy-white or pale lilac flat clusters, about 3-4 inch wide (8-10 cm), of starry silvery florets with a green center. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this hardy perennial bulb enjoys is a beautiful addition to the perennial garden and is also an excellent cut flower.

  • Growing up to 18 – 24 in. high (45 – 60 cm), this beauty naturalizes easily and will come back year after year!
  • Easily grown in rich, sandy to gritty, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Add grit when grown in clay soils to improve drainage. 
  • Known for attracting bees, butterflies, ​moths, and other pollinators, but deer ignore it.
  • Stunning in beds and borders, city gardens, cottage gardens, and gravel gardens. Spectacular in large sweeping drifts. Plant in groups (at least 10 to 15 bulbs) for the best visual impact. Excellent as cut flowers for both fresh and dried arrangements!
  • Mixes beautifully with other late spring flowering bulbs and creates stunning combinations with pink or white delphiniums, peonies, or irises.
  • To be planted in fall.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for onion rot and downy mildew.
  • Propagate by seed, sowing in containers in a cold frame when just ripe or in the spring. Alternatively, remove offsets in autumn.
  • Allium nigrum is native to the Middle East.

Hundreds of Allium species exist, but only a few have made a name for themselves as garden plants. The ornamental onions distinguish themselves by their remarkable diversity in color, inflorescence, and flowering height. Many species bloom in early summer – just after the spring-flowering period and just before the exuberant full bloom of summer. Certain small species are just perfect for a rock garden, and several lend themselves to naturalizing. All species can be used in the border.

Learn How To Plant And Care for Your Spring Flower Bulbs


 To achieve optimum flowering results, it is important to plant the bulbs at the right time.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Amaryllidaceae
Genus Allium
Common names Ornamental Onion, Onion, Black Garlic
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 6" (15cm)
Depth 6" (15cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Allium
Guides with
Allium
Not sure which Allium to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Allium cepa Aggregatum Group (Shallot)
Allium cepa (Onion)
Allium sativum (Garlic)
Allium ‘Pinball Wizard’ (Ornamental Onion)
Allium ‘Purple Rain’ (Ornamental Onion)
Allium ‘Miami’ (Ornamental Onion)

Recommended Companion Plants

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Black Barlow’ (Columbine)
Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ (Cranesbill)
Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove)
Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian)
Geranium x magnificum (Purple Cranesbill)
Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’ (Siberian Iris)
Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ (Catmint)
Astrantia major ‘Roma’ (Great Masterwort)
Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass)
Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ (Ornamental Onion)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
26 Terrific Summer Bulbs to Grow in your Garden or Pots
30 Best Spring Flowers to Spruce up Your Garden
How to Create an Enchanting Butterfly Garden
For the Love of Butterflies: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
6 Reasons You Should Create a Butterfly Garden
For the Love of Bees: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
How to Cultivate a Thriving Bee-Friendly Garden
Popular Flower Bulbs For Your Garden and Pots
18 Best Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Learn How To Plant, Grow and Harvest Chives
Brighten Up Your Garden From January Through May with Colorful Flower Bulbs
Wonderful Plants That Repel Insects
Allium (Ornamental Onion)
Great Rose Companion Plants: Allium
Bulbs that return to the garden year after year!
Tall Alliums for your Garden Borders
Small Allium Species for the Rock Garden
Learn How To Plant And Care for Your Spring Flower Bulbs
Great Bulbs and Perennials as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Plants with Purple Flowers to Add Charm to Your Garden
Awesome Allium Combos
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Amaryllidaceae
Genus Allium
Common names Ornamental Onion, Onion, Black Garlic
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 6" (15cm)
Depth 6" (15cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Allium
Guides with
Allium
Not sure which Allium to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Allium nigrum (Ornamental Onion) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Allium nigrum (Ornamental Onion) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone