Tree onion, Egyptian tree onion, Top onion
Allium cepa var. proliferum

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

An onion family plant. A bulb plant. It grows to 1.2 m high. The bulb can be up to 4 cm in diameter. The plant forms small bulbs at the top of the flowering stem. Plants rarely if ever produce seed, instead the flowering head is comprised of a number of small onions or bulbils.

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. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Hobart Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Britain, Canada, China, Europe, Egypt, North Africa, North America, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The bulbs at the top of the stem can be eaten The bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, bulb, bulbils, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are propagated by means of these bulbils or by dividing the main bulb that grows underground.

Its other names

Local names

Lou zi cong

Synonyms

Allium cepa var. viviparum (Metzg.) Alef.; Allium x proliferum (Moench.) Schrad. ex Willd.; Cepa prolifera Moench; Allium proliferum (Moench) Schrader ex Willd.;