Author Topic: daffodil garlic? (Read 8526 times)

compost · « **on:** November 30, 2013, 05:13:27 pm »

Hi, coincidentally after reading about daffodil garlic I was plodging around a friends garden I came across a daff like leaf just emerging and it smelled very garlicky. Is there anything Allium neapolitanum can be confused with? I have attached a photo of the bulbs I dug up

Thank you for your help

Cesca

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2013, 12:27:14 am »

The bulbs themselves look like bluebells. No idea why they would smell of garlic.

compost · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2013, 09:04:53 am »

no they are not blue bells, the bulbs are about 3/4" diam and the leaves are lighter green, flat like a leek (rather than round like onion) and the smell is as strong as garlic but perhaps a bit sweeter.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2013, 11:29:15 am »

Garlic chives?

lachlanandmarcus · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2013, 02:00:01 pm »

Wild garlic? Tho that's a spring thing?

Fleecewife · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2013, 04:52:50 pm »

Got this from wiki: No wonder I've not heard of it by that name as it's a non-native in GB

Allium neapolitanum (Naples Garlic, Daffodil Garlic, False Garlic, Flowering Onion, Naples Onion, Guernsey Star-of-Bethlehem, Neapolitan Garlic, Star, White Garlic, Wood Garlic) is a perennial bulbous plant of the genus Allium, the onion family. It is native to southern Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East. It is classed as an invasive species in parts of the U.S.,^[1] and is found primarily in the U.S. states of California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.^[2] It has been called Nothoscordum inodorum.^[3]
It is cultivated by gardeners for its ornamental value. It bears large heads of pure white flowers in early spring, and is suitable for borders, pots, or forcing in a cool house. Allium neapolitanum typically grows to a height of between 12 and 18 inches.^[2]
There are several varieties of A. neapolitanum, including:

Allium neapolitanum ssp. philippi
Allium neapolitanum ssp. grandiflorum^[2]

Allium neapolitanum seems to have beta-adrenergic antagonist properties.^[4]

pgkevet · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2014, 05:38:56 pm »

I have a similar unidentified curiosity- a ptch of what we currently call 'garleek'. I thought it might be welsh onion to begin with. Very leek-like growth, perennial, bulb end is like a leek or spring onion, stem leek-like a mid thickness leek and leaves upright to about 18inches. Flowering stalk to 2 feet+ topped with the usual allium onion roof that opens to very pale pinky/mauve cluster of allium flowers.

Young growth is like a mild garlic/onion taste but then goes to a very very strong garlic smell.

The allium neopolitanum description does fit with it's defined bulb