Welsh Onion (Allium fistulosum) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Welsh onion is a vegetable that grows in clumps of hollow green leaves without forming a round onion bulb. In US gardens and stores it is also called a bunching onion or scallion, though a scallion may be a young common onion (Allium cepa) too.

Appearance

Growth form: A that forms clumps.
Leaves: Hollow, tube-shaped leaves; the name fistulosum means "hollow."
Flowers: Small flowers gather in a round ball at the top of a hollow stalk.

Look-alikes

common onionAllium cepa

Young common onions may be sold as green onions too. If the base has grown into a round bulb, it is a common onion; Welsh onion keeps a straight, narrow base.

Why they get mixed upBoth can be sold with green leaves and white bases.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: vegetable gardens
farm fields
Range: Native to Asia and grown as a vegetable in US gardens.
Preferred conditions: Grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained garden soil.

Growing it

Propagation: Grown from seed or by dividing established clumps.
Toxicity: Allium vegetables can harm dogs and cats if eaten.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The name “Welsh onion” uses an old sense of Welsh meaning foreign; it does not mean the plant comes from Wales.

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