Plant Details

Allium scorodoprasum

Rocambole, Sand leek

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Common names

25 names · 22 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Rocambole
  • Sand leek[1]
Other languages (21)
Dutch
  • Slangenlook[1]
French
  • Ail rocambole
  • Rocambole[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
  • česnek ořešec[1]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
  • käärmeenlaukka[1]
German
  • Schlangen-Lauch[1]
Hungarian
  • kígyóhagyma[1]
Italian
  • Aglio romano[1]
  • Rocambola[1]
Japanese
  • ヒメニンニク[1]
Latvian
  • Ķiploku sīpols[1]
Lithuanian
  • Porinis česnakas[1]
Norwegian
  • bendelløk[1]
Polish
  • Czosnek wężowy[1]
Russian
  • Лук причесночный[1]
Slovak
  • cesnak orešcový[1]
Slovenian
Swedish
Turkish
  • İt Soğanı[1]
Ukrainian
  • Цибуля часникова[1]
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 scorodoprasum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Sand Leek — results[2].names[1]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Rocambole — results[2].names[2]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Schlangen-Lauch — results[2].names[3]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • česnek ořešec — results[2].names[4]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Skov-løg — results[2].names[5]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • metslauk — results[2].names[6]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • bendelløk — results[2].names[7]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • käärmeenlaukka — results[2].names[8]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Slangenlook — results[2].names[9]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Porinis česnakas — results[2].names[10]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Czosnek wężowy — results[2].names[11]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • ヒメニンニク — results[2].names[12]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • skogslök — results[2].names[13]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Лук причесночный — results[2].names[14]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Цибуля часникова — results[2].names[15]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • cesnak orešcový — results[2].names[16]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • divji luk — results[2].names[17]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • kígyóhagyma — results[2].names[18]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Ķiploku sīpols — results[2].names[19]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Aglio romano — results[2].names[20]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • Rocambola — results[2].names[21]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • 胡蒜 — results[2].names[22]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.
  • İt Soğanı — results[2].names[23]; taxon id 158194; Allium scorodoprasum.

General information

Scientific name: Allium scorodoprasum
Accepted name (Kew): Allium scorodoprasum 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: Rocambole, Sand leek
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.60 m
Spread: 0.10 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Root
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

Bulbs: can be consumed raw or cooked. This alternative to garlic is often used as a flavoring in salads, soups, and other dishes. The smaller bulbs have a milder taste than garlic and grow around the stem and base, with a diameter of 10 - 20 mm. Leaves: can be eaten both raw and cooked, and serve as a flavor enhancer in salads and other dishes. Flowers: edible in their raw form and are often used as a garnish on salads.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
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 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 1171942; name ID 296553; Allium scorodoprasum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 1772728, ID 5TWVL: Allium scorodoprasum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .