Plant Details

Allium fistulosum var. giganteum

Multiplier onions, Welsh onion

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Allium fistulosum var. giganteum.

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Common names

6 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Multiplier onions
  • Welsh onion
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Grove bieslook
  • Pijplook
  • Stengelui
French
  • Oignon de Trébons
Sources & name notes

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

General information

Scientific name: Allium fistulosum var. giganteum
Taxonomic placement (Kew): Allium fistulosum View name reference ↗

The giganteum horticultural identity is retained within the broader species.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Amaryllidaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Multiplier onions, Welsh onion

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.60 m
Spread: 0.20 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-10
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Root
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

Onion - raw or cooked. With its strong onion scent, it can be used in salads or as a cooked vegetable and flavoring in warm dishes. The onion bulbs are usually small, ranging from 10 to 25 mm in diameter, but can grow larger up to 45 mm and are sometimes used as spring onions. Nutritional values are available. Leaves - raw or cooked. These have a mild onion scent and can be added to salads or cooked as a vegetable. The leaves are often available during the winter, as long as the weather is not too harsh. They contain about 1.4% protein, 0.3% fat, 4.6% carbohydrates, 0.8% ash, vitamin B1, and moderate amounts of vitamin C. Flowers - raw. These have a pleasant onion scent, but the smell may linger a bit on your clothing.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
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: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Allium fistulosum var. giganteum Makino, name ID 312137, row 1171316; Allium fistulosum L., name ID 295569, row 255331
    • 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.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Allium fistulosum var. giganteum

    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 3054560, ID 7YLHL: Allium fistulosum var. giganteum Makino (synonym). Accepted target: Allium fistulosum L., ID 65XC2, line 1940043.

    Source checked on .