Plant Details

Allium carinatum, A. carinatum var. pulchellum

Garlic keel

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Allium carinatum, A. carinatum var. pulchellum.

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Garlic keel
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Berglook
French
  • Ail caréné
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Allium carinatum, A. carinatum var. pulchellum
Botanical family: Amaryllidaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Allium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Garlic keel

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.60 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root, Flowers
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

Bulbs can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are very small, about 15 mm long and 10 mm in diameter. Both the leaves and the flowers can be consumed raw or cooked. Bulbils are also edible, both raw and cooked. Although they are quite small and difficult to handle, they have a pleasant flavor that resembles onion or garlic.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 31/08

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1169904; name ID 294888; Allium L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.