Egyptian walking onions are a unique plant which produces the next generation in a crown of bulblets atop their stalks in lieu of flowers. As the bulblets grow, their weight pulls them to the ground, where they take root to grow new plants. While the young bulbs are mild and can be used as scallions, old bulbs are quite pungent.
Latin Name
Allium x proliferum
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Also Known As
Tree onion Topsetting onion
Type of Plant
Perennials
Vegetables
Seasons
Spring
Fall
Summer
Specifications
Max Height: 1.5'
Max Spread: 1'
Uses
Sunlight Exposure
Full Sun
Colors
History
Bernard McMahon of Philadelphia listed walking onions in his 1802 seed catalog.
Planted at Mount Vernon
Hardiness Zones
Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005
Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility. Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.
Bring Washington's Garden Home
Purchase our historic seeds, collected from plants grown at Mount Vernon and plant them in your own garden.
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