Keeled garlic
Allium carinatum
Family: Amaryllidaceae
What it is like
An onion family plant. A bulb plant. It grows up to 60 cm high. It spreads 30 cm wide. It has grassy leaves 20 cm long. There are 2-4 leaves per bulb. The flowers are pink and in heads. There are up to 30 flowers in a head and they are 50 mm wide. Small bulbils develop around the flower-head.
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 plant. The plant is naturalised in Britain in dry grassy places and open woods. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Albania, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Europe, Russia, Slovenia, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The bulbs are eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The flowers are used raw or to flavour salads. Some forms have bulbils which are pickled.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, roots, bulb, bulbils
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or by division of clumps. Bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Bulbils can also be used.
Its other names
Local names
Gredljasti luk, Koritasti luk