Allium giganteum

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

| name= Giant onion

| taxon = Allium giganteum

| parent = Allium subg. Melanocrommyum

| image = PurpleBallFlower.JPG

| authority = RegelEduard August von Regel. 1883. Gartenflora 32: 91.

|synonyms=Allium procerum Trautv. ex Regel

|synonyms_ref=[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-295629 The Plant List]

}}

Allium giganteum, common name giant onion or giant leek, is an Asian species of onion in the Onion Family (Alliaceae), native to central and southwestern Asia but cultivated in many countries as a flowering garden plant.Regel, Eduard August von 1883. Gartenflora (1883) 32: 91[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/18403373 Tropicos, Allium giganteum Regel ] It is the tallest species of Allium in common cultivation, growing to {{convert|1.5|m|ft}}.[http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282192&isprofile=1&basic=Allium Missouri Botanical Garden: Allium giganteum]

In early to midsummer, small globes of intense purple umbels appear, followed by attractive fruiting umbels. A popular cultivar, 'Globemaster', is shorter ({{convert|80|cm|in}}) but produces much larger, deep violet, umbels ({{convert|15|-|20|cm|in}}). These globular umbels can contain thousands of florets (i.e. tiny flowers). A bulb dealer in Arcadia, California, counted 5286 florets from a single umbel. Long Beach [California] Independent Press Telegram (January 24, 1970) page B3 Both varieties have been granted the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{Cite web |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=95 |title=Allium giganteum Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=2012-06-13 |archive-date=2014-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326163324/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=95 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=97 |title=Allium 'Globemaster' Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=2012-06-13 |archive-date=2014-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326163946/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=97 |url-status=dead }}{{PFAF|Allium giganteum}}

In nature, the species is found in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:528087-1?name_id=295629 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families] In cultivation in the US, it performs well in USDA hardiness zones 6–10.{{Cite web|title=Allium giganteum (Ornamental Onion)|url=https://www.gardenia.net/plant/allium-giganteum-ornamental-onion|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Gardenia.net}}

Eating flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea due to the sulfides they contain.{{Cite web|title=Allium giganteum (Giant Ornamental Onion, Ornamental Onion) {{!}} North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox|url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/allium-giganteum/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=plants.ces.ncsu.edu}}

File:Allium Giganteum (1).jpg|Flower opening