Plant Profile: Allium neapolitanum

Taxonomy: Allium neapolitanum

Names

Daffodil Garlic, False Garlic, Flowering Onion, Guernsey star-of-Bethlehem, Naples Garlic, Naples Onion, Neapolitan Garlic, White Garlic, Wood Garlic

  • Photo of Allium neapolitanum (Allium neapolitanums)

Phonetic Spelling:AL-ee-um nee-ah-pol-ih-TAY-num

Genus:Allium

Species:neapolitanum

Family:Amaryllidaceae

White garlic, a bulbous plant belonging to the Amaryllis family, originates from the Mediterranean region and has become established in states such as California, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. In certain areas, it is regarded as an invasive species.

This plant produces clusters of white flowers featuring yellow anthers during the months of May and June, rising above its strap-like green foliage. The bulbs propagate easily through offsets.

For optimal growth, plant in well-drained soil and ensure it receives full sunlight. It is well-suited for rock gardens, naturalized spaces, or cottage-style gardens.

For further details on Allium, please refer to additional resources.

Allium neapolitanum Feature Summary

Allium neapolitanum Image Gallery

Tags

#fragrant
#white
#bulb
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#fragrant flowers
#drought tolerant
#white flowers
#weedy
#cut flowers
#spring flowers
#plant in fall
#Tunicated bulb
#groundcover
#naturalizes
#rock gardens
#borders
#spring flowering bulbs
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Allium neapolitanum Feature Summary

Attributes
Southern Europe and northern Africa
Leaves, bulbs, and bulblets are edible. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
Perennial
Bulb
Flowers
White flowers with yellow anthers in 3-4 inch clusters in spring to early summer. Individual flowers are small, 6-parted and star-shaped. Smells of garlic or onion.
Spring
Summer
6 petals/rays
Star
Radial
1-3 inches
Leaves
Leaves are basal 20" long and 1" wide, slender and flat. Smells of garlic or onion.
> 6 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Slightly winged green stem
Poisonous to Humans
Poisonous through ingestion. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems)
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Fruit
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Drought
Deer
Rabbits
Woodland
Naturalized Area

Allium neapolitanum Attributes

Allium neapolitanum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Southern Europe and northern Africa

Allium neapolitanum: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

deer, rabbit drought

Allium neapolitanum: Edibility

Leaves, bulbs, and bulblets are edible. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.

Allium neapolitanum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Allium neapolitanum: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Allium neapolitanum Flowers

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Description

White flowers with yellow anthers in 3-4 inch clusters in spring to early summer. Individual flowers are small, 6-parted and star-shaped. Smells of garlic or onion.

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Allium neapolitanum: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Allium neapolitanum Leaves

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Description

Leaves are basal 20" long and 1" wide, slender and flat. Smells of garlic or onion.

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Allium neapolitanum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Allium neapolitanum: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Allium neapolitanum Stem

Allium neapolitanum: Stem Description

Slightly winged green stem

Allium neapolitanum: Stem Color

grass
Green

Allium neapolitanum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Allium neapolitanum Poisonous to Humans

Allium neapolitanum: Poison Symptoms

Poisonous through ingestion. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems)

Allium neapolitanum: Poison Toxic Principle

Sulfides

Allium neapolitanum: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Allium neapolitanum: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Allium neapolitanum: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Allium neapolitanum Whole Plant Traits

Allium neapolitanum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Allium neapolitanum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Allium neapolitanum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Allium neapolitanum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Allium neapolitanum Cultural Conditions

Allium neapolitanum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Allium neapolitanum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Allium neapolitanum: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Allium neapolitanum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Allium neapolitanum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Allium neapolitanum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Allium neapolitanum Fruit

Allium neapolitanum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Allium neapolitanum Landscape

Allium neapolitanum: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Allium neapolitanum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Allium neapolitanum: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Allium neapolitanum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Allium neapolitanum: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy