Sign up for our newsletter Gardening in the Rainy Zone.
Pronounced: AL-lee-um ka-ra-tah-vee-EN-see Sunset zones 1-24.
USDA zones: 5-9. Heat zones: 9-5. Height: 4-10 inches (10-25
cm). Two to three-inch diameter spherical umbel of 50 or more,
flowers on a 6-inch stem. Just above ground level the thick,
leathery, pleated, 6-inch long leaves. 'Ivory White' has a pale,
pewter tone. Full sun to partial shade. Dry, well-drained,
ordinary garden soil. Remove offsets in autumn and plant. Pests
and Diseases: Bulb rot can occur during our damp conditions of
fall through spring. Onion fly and thrips may be a problem.
Rainy Side Notes Allium karataviense is a spunky plant with a
large flower globe. It is a dwarf ornamental onion compared to
the giant species in the Melanocrommyum group of alliums, in
which it belongs. It grows exceptionally well in our
Mediterranean climate, as the plants go dormant by the time our
annual drought comes around. Some gardeners grow the species and
its cultivars because it has the most attr