A small bulbous perennial from the Mediterranean with clusters of white star-shaped flowers in spring, often grown as an ornamental and naturalized in warm regions. It is easy to grow in free-draining soil in a sunny spot, and it can spread and become invasive in some areas.
Family
Amaryllidaceae (Daffodil & onion family)
Grows as
Bulb, Perennial
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water moderately while in leaf and flower, then keep dry while the bulb rests in summer.
Soil
Well-drained soil or gritty mix; avoid waterlogging.
Temperature
Hardy to about -10 °C when dry; protect from prolonged frost in wet conditions.
How easy
Easy
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
Medit.
Climate
subtropical
About
Allium neapolitanum is a bulbous herbaceous perennial plant in the onion subfamily within the Amaryllis family. Common names include Neapolitan garlic, Naples garlic, daffodil garlic, false garlic, flowering onion, Naples onion, Guernsey star-of-Bethlehem, star, white garlic, and wood garlic.
Where it grows
Its native range extends across the Mediterranean Region from Portugal to the Levant. The species is cultivated as an ornamental and has become naturalized in many areas, including Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and in southern and western parts of the United States. It is classed as an invasive species in parts of the U.S., and is found primarily in the states of California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Allium neapolitanum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.