German garlic, Broadleaf chives, Shan jiu
Allium senescens

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

An onion family plant. It is a bulb plant. It grows 30-50 cm high and spreads 20-60 cm wide. There are one or two bulbs. They are oval or cone shaped. They are 1-2 cm across. They are attached to a rhizome or underground stem. The outer covering is usually blackish. The leaves are arranged in spirals. They are narrow and shorter than the scape. They are 7-10 mm wide and flat and thick. The scape is 30-60 cm long. It is 2 angled and has 2 narrow wings. It is covered with the leaf sheaths only at the base. They flower head is half round and has many flowers.

There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate climate plant. It grows in forests and on dry stony slopes and salty meadows and in gravely places between 500-800 m altitude in N China. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia, Slovenia

How it is used for food

The bulbs, leaves and young shoots are used as food.

It is a main wild vegetable in the Hexi corridor QiLian Mountains, China.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gorski luk, Jeongguji, Manggir, Ulleungdobuchu

Synonyms

Allium baicalense Willd.; Allium senescens f. albiflorum Q.S. Sun.; and several others