Allium chamaemoly
dwarf garlic
Family Amaryllidaceae
About
Allium chamaemoly, dwarf garlic, is a tiny Mediterranean garlic whose flower cluster sits almost at ground level; it is grown for its flowers and strongly aromatic bulbs.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Allium species are toxic to cats and dogs; eating large amounts can cause hemolytic anemia, and cats are most sensitive. General guidance for the genus
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Full sun to light shade. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Avoid overly damp ground; wet conditions invite bulb rot and other fungal problems. General guidance for the genus
- Soil
- Fertile, loose, well-drained soil; sand or loam both suit. General guidance for the genus
- Propagation
- Divide bulb offsets in spring; seed is slower and may take years to germinate. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
Grows from an underground bulb with a very short or absent flowering stalk, so the umbel opens at soil level. Flowers are white, usually with a purple midvein; the flat, grass-like leaves often carry long white hairs.
Distribution & habitat
Spain including the Balearic Islands, France including Corsica, Malta, Italy including Sardinia and Sicily, Greece, the Balkans, Algeria and Morocco.
Cultivation notes
Cultivated outside its range for its flowers and pungent bulbs.
History & etymology
Two subspecies are recognised: subsp. chamaemoly across most of the European range and subsp. longicaulis in Spain, Algeria and Morocco.
Conservation
Assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Spain, France, Malta, Italy, Greece, Algeria, Morocco
- IUCN status
- Least concern
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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