Allium triquetrum

Common Names

Three-Cornered Leek, Onion Weed, Three-Cornered Garlic, Angled Onion, Snowbell, Stinking Onion

Summary

Three-Cornered Leek is a bulbous perennial native to the Mediterranean basin, distinguished by three-cornered flowering stems bearing white bell-shaped flowers with a green stripe on the back of the tepals, in drooping, one-sided clusters; leaves are deep green, flat and ribbed, and emit a strong garlic scent when crushed. Typically reaching about 30–60 cm tall, it forms dense colonies and all parts are edible, with a subtle leek-like flavor.

It prefers shade or semi-shade with moist, well-drained soils and is hardy in USDA zones 7–10. It propagates by seeds and by division or offsets, and can spread to form dense colonies, sometimes becoming invasive; cultivation can include borders, naturalizing in grass, rock gardens, or containers. All parts are edible; culinary uses range from leaves and bulbs to flowers; pest and disease problems are not serious, though bulb rot from overwatering and fungal diseases can occur; container growing can help limit spread.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-18 inches

Spread

6-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial sun to partial shade; tolerates full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained, moderately moist soil rich in organic matter

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Rapid growth with doubling in size within 2–5 years via bulbs and seed.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Offsets / bulbils, Bulbs (bulb propagation), Bulb scaling

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and other pollinators