Allium giganteum
Jim McKenney (Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:51:52 PDT)

What’s the story with Allium giganteum?

Years ago the plant in commerce under this name had very distinctive bulbs:
huge tear-drop or almond shaped things which exuded a distinctive red sap
which dried into hard drops firmly attached to the bulbs.

The bulbs I’ve seen on offer in local shops under this name for the last
several years have the typical, rounded bulbs of the Allium of the
melanocrymnium sort. I have not bought one to see what they are (I think
they are going for $7 each; I’m not that curious).

For several years I have not seen the almond-shaped bulbs in local shops,
but this year I did see them, and they were mixed with bulbs of more rounded
form.

Are these bulbs with rounded form also Allium giganteum?

Jim McKenney

jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com

Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, 39.03871º North, 77.09829º West, USDA zone
7

My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/

BLOG! http://mcwort.blogspot.com/

Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS

Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/

Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/