Description
Allium triquetum
This onion family member is native to south-western Europe, north-western Africa, Madeira and the Canary Islands, where its preferred habitat includes meadows, damp woodlands, river banks and roadside verges. It has naturalized in many places around the world, and goes by many names, including Angled Onion, Flowering Onion, White-flowered Onion, and Three-cornered Garlic (the species epithet triquetrum refers to the three-cornered shape of the flower stalks). In New Zealand we usually know it as Onion Weed, and we focus on the ‘weed’ part rather than the ‘onion’ part, which I think is rather a shame.
Alliums (onion species) are in general very healthy additions to the diet, containing rich organosulfur compounds which are believed to prevent the development of cancer, cardiovascular, neurological and liver diseases, and diabetes. Alliums are said to be one of the most effective anti-microbial plants available, acting on bacteria, viruses and alimentary parasites. The volatile oil is largely excreted via the lungs and hence is used in infections of the bronchial system. Alliums also support the development of the natural bacterial flora while killing pathogenic organisms. They can also be used topically against fungal infections.
They also happen to be a very useful flavouring for other foods. All parts of this plant – bulbs, flowers, stems and leaves – are edible fresh or cooked and offer a subtle leek or spring onion flavour, milder than either garlic or garden onions. Leaves and stalks can be used in salads, pesto and omelettes. Flowers or chopped leaves can be used as garnish. Flower buds can be pickled like capers, as can the bulbs at the end of the season, or the bulbs can be crushed and used like garlic.
Now back to the weed part. This plant is a bulbous perennial which can spread both by seed and bulb offsets, colonizing an area. It is notoriously hard to get rid of as any bit of bulb left in the ground can multiply. However if you are keen to use it as a regular addition to your diet, you could plant it in a pot and make sure it doesn’t go to seed (easy – eat the flowers), or plant it in an area with a solid border – of concrete, or in a food forest situation you could use a double row of comfrey (and also make sure the onion weed doesn’t set seed). If you change your mind, you can shade it out, either with other plants, or with heavy duty plastic. The weedbusters website itself admits the following about onion weed:
Intolerant of strong competition for space, heavy shade.
What can I do to stop it coming back?
Spraying with glyphosate only gives plant more room to expand. Better to overplant with taller spp. In regenerating habitats, often better to leave altogether to minimise disturbance.
One day you might even find yourself disappointed that your food forest trees have shaded out your onion weed!
Like most Mediterranean species, the growth season of Three-cornered Leek (I am persisting in calling it this!) is from late Autumn to late Spring, avoiding the heat of Summer, and providing a useful food source through the ‘hungry gap’. It is tolerant of sun, part shade, frost, most soil types, and prefers damp conditions. When first emerging, onion weed can look similar to a clump of grass, but the leaves are shiny and are followed by pretty snowbell-like white flowers, growing to a height of 20- 30cm.
Note: This product is NOT listed as a banned or invasive species on the National Plant Pest Accord
Certified organic plant in 9cm pot.
Freight: We can send up to 9 plants this size (in 9cm pots) for the same freight price or they can be combined with other grades but this will incur higher freight costs.
