Post by stevil on Nov 26, 2008 14:58:32 GMT -5
I've noticed an interest here in wild species onions and some guy mentioned a nodding onion that he was going to grow, so here is one of the onions which nod......
The Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum is one of my favourite perennial onions. Look at the pictures and background below and I think you’ll see why.
It has the widest distribution of any Allium in North America and prefers full sun habitats, although it prefers cooler damper conditions (it thrives in my cool garden anyway).
See plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALCE2
It is believed that the city of Chicago was named after a local Indian tribe’s name for this onion (although possibly also others), being a common plant where the city was founded. This onion was widely used as a staple by Native American tribes throughout its range. I remember years ago getting a copy of Sturtevant’s Edible Plants of the World and reading that Allium cernuum and A. canadense had formed almost the entire source of food to the French Missionary (Jacques) Marquette and his party from Green Bay to the present site of Chicago in 1674! I love plants with a story and this inspired me originally to get hold of this plant. Fittingly, there’s a park in Chicago called Marquette Park (named after Pere Marquette) and a remnant of the original prairie on which Chicago was built thrives there thanks to volunteers, with Allium cernuum one of the original plants…..
All pictures below are of the large cultivar “Pink Giant” – at least this is what I got it as many years ago. Although probably not an official name I see that it is now offered by nurseries and in seed catalogues, presumably originally from me. I’ve also offered it as such in the SSE Yearbooks (this year as well, I think). From my experience, there are probably several synonyms: “Hidcote”, “Rubra”, “Major” that I’ve received from seed exchanges have all turned out very similar to Pink Giant.
So, here is a year in the life of the Nodding Onion (it doesn’t get much rest from my grazing, poor thing, available all year round….). The taste? I knew you’d ask, so I just dug one up from under the snow and did a taste test. It’s fairly strong, similar in strength to common bulb onions (Allium cepa):
The first picture shows various Alliums harvested here in late March as soon as the earth has thawed (some species of perennial Allium can even be harvested in mid-Winter putting on new growth in mild spells)
From L to R: Allium obliquum, A. x proliferum, A. nutans, A. cernuum, A. victorialis, A. fistulosum, A. schoenoprasum sibiricum, Allium ursinum, A. schoenoprasum
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1084
Now, in late April – a picture of various perennial veggies ready for the pot – Allium cernuum is rather attractive, don’t you think?
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1085
This is one of the most attractive Alliums in my opinion. Here the nodding flowers are just emerging around mid-summer:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1086
and in full flower:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1087
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1088
There are a number of other attractive cultivars. This white flowered variety is perhaps closer to the size of the wild species?
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1089
and this pink one turned up (from a self-sown seedling):
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1090
and all together:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1093
If you like to decorate your salads with flowers, Allium cernuum is perfect, attractive and tasty – here you can see both Pink Giant and album:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1091
Allium cernuum is easy to propagate from divisions (although the bulbs can be a struggle to dig out without disturbing the whole plant – they are quite deep) and self-seeds en masse if one doesn’t dead head. It grows quite fast from seed.
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1092
The Nodding Onion remains green even in our hardest winter weather, although browning at the tips…
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1094
Hope this whetted the appetite....
Stephen
The Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum is one of my favourite perennial onions. Look at the pictures and background below and I think you’ll see why.
It has the widest distribution of any Allium in North America and prefers full sun habitats, although it prefers cooler damper conditions (it thrives in my cool garden anyway).
See plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALCE2
It is believed that the city of Chicago was named after a local Indian tribe’s name for this onion (although possibly also others), being a common plant where the city was founded. This onion was widely used as a staple by Native American tribes throughout its range. I remember years ago getting a copy of Sturtevant’s Edible Plants of the World and reading that Allium cernuum and A. canadense had formed almost the entire source of food to the French Missionary (Jacques) Marquette and his party from Green Bay to the present site of Chicago in 1674! I love plants with a story and this inspired me originally to get hold of this plant. Fittingly, there’s a park in Chicago called Marquette Park (named after Pere Marquette) and a remnant of the original prairie on which Chicago was built thrives there thanks to volunteers, with Allium cernuum one of the original plants…..
All pictures below are of the large cultivar “Pink Giant” – at least this is what I got it as many years ago. Although probably not an official name I see that it is now offered by nurseries and in seed catalogues, presumably originally from me. I’ve also offered it as such in the SSE Yearbooks (this year as well, I think). From my experience, there are probably several synonyms: “Hidcote”, “Rubra”, “Major” that I’ve received from seed exchanges have all turned out very similar to Pink Giant.
So, here is a year in the life of the Nodding Onion (it doesn’t get much rest from my grazing, poor thing, available all year round….). The taste? I knew you’d ask, so I just dug one up from under the snow and did a taste test. It’s fairly strong, similar in strength to common bulb onions (Allium cepa):
The first picture shows various Alliums harvested here in late March as soon as the earth has thawed (some species of perennial Allium can even be harvested in mid-Winter putting on new growth in mild spells)
From L to R: Allium obliquum, A. x proliferum, A. nutans, A. cernuum, A. victorialis, A. fistulosum, A. schoenoprasum sibiricum, Allium ursinum, A. schoenoprasum
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1084
Now, in late April – a picture of various perennial veggies ready for the pot – Allium cernuum is rather attractive, don’t you think?
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1085
This is one of the most attractive Alliums in my opinion. Here the nodding flowers are just emerging around mid-summer:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1086
and in full flower:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1087
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1088
There are a number of other attractive cultivars. This white flowered variety is perhaps closer to the size of the wild species?
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1089
and this pink one turned up (from a self-sown seedling):
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1090
and all together:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1093
If you like to decorate your salads with flowers, Allium cernuum is perfect, attractive and tasty – here you can see both Pink Giant and album:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1091
Allium cernuum is easy to propagate from divisions (although the bulbs can be a struggle to dig out without disturbing the whole plant – they are quite deep) and self-seeds en masse if one doesn’t dead head. It grows quite fast from seed.
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1092
The Nodding Onion remains green even in our hardest winter weather, although browning at the tips…
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1094
Hope this whetted the appetite....
Stephen
