Plant Details

Allium cepa

Garden onion

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Common names

54 names · 45 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bulb Onion[1]
  • Common Onion[1]
  • Garden onion[1]
Other languages (44)
Dutch
French
Arabic
  • بصل شائع[1]
Armenian
  • Գլուխ սոխ[1]
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • cibule kuchyňská[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik sibul[1]
  • söögisibul[1]
Finnish
  • ruokasipuli[1]
German
  • Gemeine Zwiebel[1]
Hebrew
  • בצל הגינה[1]
Huichol
Hungarian
  • Vöröshagyma[1]
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
  • タマネギ[1]
Korean
Laadan
Lithuanian
  • Valgomasis svogūnas[1]
Mayan languages
Norwegian
Nyduka
Otomi
Palauan
Polish
Portuguese
Purepecha
Romani
Russian
  • Лук репчатый[1]
Santali
  • ᱯᱮᱭᱟᱡᱽ[1]
Selete
Sengwaketse
Sinhala
  • ලොකු ළූණු[1]
Slovak
  • cibuľa kuchynská[1]
Spanish
  • Cebolla[1]
  • Cebolla cabezona[1]
Swedish
Tagalog
Thai
  • หอมใหญ่[1]
Tswana
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Цибуля городня[1]
Upriver Halkomelem
Sources & name notes (1)

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

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Allium cepa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Common Onion — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Cebolla — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • cucut — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • denchi — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • tsurúpsi — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • uyuri — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Bawang — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Oignon — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Cebola — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • cibule kuchyňská — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • harilik sibul — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Bulb Onion — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • söögisibul — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • kepaløk — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Лук репчатый — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • ruokasipuli — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Valgomasis svogūnas — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • タマネギ — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Gemeine Zwiebel — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • kepalök — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • matlök — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • lök — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • garden onion — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • ලොකු ළූණු — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • 洋葱 — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Ui — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Գլուխ սոխ — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • bremeda — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Cebolla cabezona — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Cipolla — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • soğan — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • بصل شائع — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • 양파 — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • 洋蔥 — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Sebulias — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • kepaløg — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • หอมใหญ่ — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Цибуля городня — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Vöröshagyma — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • ayun — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • ᱯᱮᱭᱟᱡᱽ — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Czosnek cebula — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Cebula — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • ᏒᎩ — results[1].names[45]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • בצל הגינה — results[1].names[46]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Porum — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • kwii — results[1].names[48]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • kwii — results[1].names[49]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • segwere — results[1].names[50]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • cibuľa kuchynská — results[1].names[51]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • Sibuyas — results[1].names[52]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • 'uniyuls — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • 葱头 — results[1].names[54]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.
  • 皮芽子 — results[1].names[55]; taxon id 48592; Allium cepa.

General information

Scientific name: Allium cepa
Accepted name (Kew): Allium cepa L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Amaryllidaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Garden onion
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.15–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Arching, Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root, Flowers, Seed
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Cosmetic use, Dye, Repellent

Description

Onions - raw or cooked. Onions are a versatile food that is widely used around the world. They can be eaten both raw and cooked and are often added to salads, sandwiches, sautéed or cooked as a vegetable, and used as a seasoning in various dishes such as soups and stews. Some onion varieties are ideal for making pickles due to their smaller and often spicier bulbs. Onion greens - raw or cooked. Certain types of onions, such as green onions, have edible leaves that can be used in salads while they are still young. These varieties have smaller bulbs and are typically eaten along with the leaves. By sowing them successively, they can be available year-round. Onion flowers - raw. These can be used as a garnish on salads. The flowers are somewhat drier and less attractive than those of other plants. Onion seeds can be sprouted and eaten and have a delightful onion aroma.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

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 familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1169904; name ID 294888; Allium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1171109; name ID 295261; Allium cepa L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Allium cepa

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1946506, ID 667JH: Allium cepa L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Allium cepa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .