Pollinator plant

Giant Allium

Allium giganteum

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Common names

18 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (14)
Dutch
  • Reuzenlook
French
  • Ail géant de l'Himalaya[1][2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
  • česnek obrovský[2]
Estonian
Finnish
  • jättilaukka[2]
Hungarian
  • Óriás Díszhagyma[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • オオハナニラ[2]
Polish
  • czosnek olbrzymi[2]
Russian
  • Лук гигантский[2]
Slovak
  • cesnak obrovský[2]
Swedish
  • jättelök[2]
Turkish
  • Başlı Soğan[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Allium giganteum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Giant Allium — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Giant Onion — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Ornamental Onion — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Ail géant de l'Himalaya — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • aglio gigante — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
[2] Allium giganteum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Giant Allium — results[18].names[3]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Giant Onion — results[18].names[4]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Ornamental Onion — results[18].names[5]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Ail géant de l'Himalaya — results[18].names[12]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • aglio gigante — results[18].names[8]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • česnek obrovský — results[18].names[1]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • hiidlauk — results[18].names[2]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • オオハナニラ — results[18].names[6]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • jättelök — results[18].names[7]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Лук гигантский — results[18].names[9]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • czosnek olbrzymi — results[18].names[10]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • 大花葱 — results[18].names[11]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Óriás Díszhagyma — results[18].names[13]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • jättilaukka — results[18].names[14]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • cesnak obrovský — results[18].names[15]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
  • Başlı Soğan — results[18].names[16]; taxon id 550792; Allium giganteum.
[3] Allium giganteum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Giant Ornamental Onion — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium giganteum.
  • Ornamental Onion — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium giganteum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Allium giganteum is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Amaryllidaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Allium species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable. Plants must be allowed to flower.

Sources [3] [4]
Native range
NE. Iran to C. Asia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium

Solitary wild bees

High suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

Giant Allium (Allium giganteum) is a bulbous plant. It flowers from June to July.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Allium giganteum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1940047; ID 65XC6; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1940047; ID 65XC6; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Allium giganteum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Allium species (top 427 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Allium species (top 592 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Allium giganteum — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 255475; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 414161, 414162, 414163, 414164, 414165, 414166

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.