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Botanical Description

Bulbs almost globular, eventually in small clumps. Stems triangular in cross section, 30cm or more high. Leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate, to 30cm long by 5-20mm wide. Flowers bowl or star-shaped, glistening white, l-2cm wide, many in hemispherical umbels, spring. Mediterranean region, in dry open habitats including pastures and farmland. Best in the alpine house or sheltered sunny site outside. The plant grown as A. cowanii is more robust and makes a good pot plant; A.n. 'Albo-giganteum' and 'Grandiflorum' are apparently similar though not commercially available. A.n. 'Roseum' has pink flowers but appears to be lost to cultivation. A. neapolitanum is one of the few species to have little or none of the onion scent.