Allium kunthii
G.Don.
Kunth's onion
(c) Leticia Jiménez Hernández, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Leticia Jiménez Hernández
(c) Leticia Jiménez Hernández, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Leticia Jiménez Hernández
(c) Carlos Martorell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Carlos Martorell
What to Eat
Edible parts: Flowers, Leaves, Root
Bulb - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring. The small bulbs are usually less than 2cm in diameter. Leaves - raw or cooked. Flowers - raw. Used as a garnish on salads.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
Southwestern N. America - Texas, New Mexico, Mexico.
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (New Mexico (south), Texas (southwest), Arizona (southeast)), Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Morelos, Querétaro, Ciudad de México) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Guatemala
How to Identify
Allium kunthii is a BULB growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
How to Grow
Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle - if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division in spring. The plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season, pot up the divisions in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing well and then plant them out into their permanent positions.
Medicinal Uses
Although no specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system.
Other Uses
Repellent. The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.
