Allium cepa proliferum - Tree Onion - 5 bulbs - €6

These are perennial onions that provide a tasty leaf and a welcome early addition to the salad bowl. They produce bulblets at the top of their flower stem, which can be planted out in the autumn. A.cepa proliferum is sometimes referred to as 'Walking Onions', because if the bulblets are not harvested, eventually their weight pulls the stem down to the ground, and the bulblets grow on at that exact spot.. If this process continues through the generations, the plant literally appears to 'walk' from one end of the garden to the other! They are an excellent companion plant, confusing many pests with their strong aroma. These plants are 1yr old taken from the bulbils and need to spend their first winter inside to then be planted out in the spring. We have the plants scattered around the garden to utilize their pest repellent properties and also have patches of them for vegetative production. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Not known in the wild
  • native habitat: original habitat is obscure 
  • family: Alliaceae

Predators

  • Mildew 
  • Slugs 
  • People over picking the leaves 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA: 4 - 8
  • Prefers dry or moist soil
  • Water when dry in summer  
  • The leaves are produced from late autumn, though  harvesting them at this time will often encourage diseases such as mildew. 
  • Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer


Polyculture Potential  

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Known hazards 

  • There have been cases of poisoning caused by consumption of this plant in large quantities and by some mammals.  Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible

Overview


  • Bulbous perennial growing to 1.2 m 
  • Hardy to zone 5 and 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. 
  • Cannot grow in the shade. 
  • Prefers moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form: bulbous perennial 
  • layer : Ground Layer
  • habit: bulbous fleshy stems that spread with a very shallow root system. 
  • height x width (m): 1.2
  • years to bearing yield: 0-1 year  
  • productive life span: indefinite 

Products 

  • Bulbs: They have a strong onion flavour and are often used as pickled onions or added to salads
  • Leaf: excellent in salads and omelettes, larger leaves can be used as a vegetable 
  • Although rarely used specifically as a medicinal herb, the onion has a wide range of beneficial actions on the body and when eaten (especially raw) on a regular basis will promote the general health of the body
  • Insecticide:  A spray made by pouring enough boiling water to cover 1kg of chopped unpeeled onions is said to increase the resistance of other plants to diseases and parasites
  • Repellent : The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent and can also be rubbed onto the skin to repel insects

Functions, behaviours

  • Bulbous growth spreading by 'walking' if undisturbed 
  • Plants rarely if ever produce seed, instead the flowering head is comprised of a number of small onions or bulbils which can be used to propagate the plant
  • Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes.
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project