Flower Properties

Property	Value
English Name	Giant Onion
MainColor	Violet
PlantType	Herb
Growth Type	Cultivated
Season	May
ImageUrl	Allium-001
Photographer	DP
Location
Human Toxicity	Mildly_Toxic

Flower Details

Description

A striking bulbous perennial known for its tall stems topped with large spherical clusters of small purple flowers in late spring and early summer. Popular in ornamental gardens for dramatic architectural interest.

Distribution

Native to Central and Southwestern Asia. Cultivated widely in the UK but not naturalised.

Medicinal/Other Uses

Closely related to culinary onions and garlic but grown purely for ornamental purposes.

Edibility

Not edible – unlike edible onions, it is cultivated solely for display.

Human Toxicity

Contains compounds similar to those in garlic and onions, which are toxic to cats and dogs, causing hemolytic anemia if consumed in quantity.

Pet Toxicity

Highly toxic – ingestion can damage red blood cells in cats and dogs.

Active Compounds

Thiosulfates, organosulfur compounds.