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It is the largest plant genera in the
world and has about 1250 species. The plant is of the onion genus. All
members of this genus are, at least theoretically, edible. Their flavors
range from mild onions and leeks right through to strong onion and
garlic. Alliums are a cool-season crop grown in most regions of the U.S
The Allium family includes a wide range of
plants from chives to small bulbs with tiny, beautiful flowers for rock
gardens to the drumsticks with stout vertical stems topped by a ball of
color. They come in a wonderful range of colors including purple,
buttercup yellow, pinks, white and shades of cornflower blue.
Alliums often grow in poor, stony ground
and they don't need pampering in the garden. Average soil is fine, but
it must be free-draining. Alliums are biennial monocots that are
cultivated as annuals, a cool-season crop requiring temperatures of at
least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to emerge from seed.
Alliums include various bulbing and
nonbulbing species, used for both culinary and ornamental purposes.
Did
you know?
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Allium species- A. cristophii and A.
giganteum, are used as border plants for their "architectural"
qualities.
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Caerulum: the small round blue heads
are just 2.5cm (1in) wide.
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Nigrum: Have white flowers. The word
nigrum refers to the dark, greenish-black flower centers.
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There is plenty of evidence to
demonstrate the health benefits of including Alliums in the diet.
Garlic, for example, has a very long folk history of use in the
treatment of a wide range of diseases, particularly ailments such as
ringworm, candida
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