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Allium cirrhosum

Keeled Garlic

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Allium

Also published as Allium carinatum subsp. pulchellum, Allium coloratum, Allium pulchellum. You are in the right place.

A domed umbel of pink bell flowers on long arching stalks, half of them still upright buds, on a slender stem.
FlowerH. ZellCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Flower
PinkRead from the photograph on this page

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden.

Worth knowing

  • Wikipedia lists this name under Allium carinatum, the keeled garlic or witch's garlic, which is grown as an ornamental and for its potently aromatic bulbs, used as a food flavoring. Wikipedia: Allium carinatum

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 23, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    20 germinated in this phase.

  7. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 1.5 years from start to step 7. Germination happens during step 7; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

25% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Allium p. 91Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). This genus showed much diversity. Germination patterns ranged from simple D-70 in A. pulchellum like A. karataviense gave some of the most extended germination observed. Germination occurred at both 70 and 40 and in comparable overall percentages for fresh seed or DS seed. Some of the experiments were closed prematurely. The seed was still firm arid, in retrospect, would probably have given further germination. The data is given in full. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70-40-70 none and 40-70(5%)-40(15%)-70(5%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70-40(6%)-70-40- 70(6%) and 40-70-40-70-40(15%)-70(15%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70-40-70- 40(4%)-70(4%)-40(4%-70(20%) and 40-70(5%)-40-70-40(20%)-70(25%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Allium p. 91. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

15% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Allium p. 91Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). This genus showed much diversity. Germination patterns ranged from simple D-70 in A. pulchellum like A. karataviense gave some of the most extended germination observed. Germination occurred at both 70 and 40 and in comparable overall percentages for fresh seed or DS seed. Some of the experiments were closed prematurely. The seed was still firm arid, in retrospect, would probably have given further germination. The data is given in full. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70-40-70 none and 40-70(5%)-40(15%)-70(5%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70-40(6%)-70-40- 70(6%) and 40-70-40-70-40(15%)-70(15%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70-40-70- 40(4%)-70(4%)-40(4%-70(20%) and 40-70(5%)-40-70-40(20%)-70(25%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Allium p. 91. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 21, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  7. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    15 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 6 run on after germination.

about 18 months from start to step 6. Germination happens during step 6; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

15% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Allium p. 91Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). This genus showed much diversity. Germination patterns ranged from simple D-70 in A. pulchellum like A. karataviense gave some of the most extended germination observed. Germination occurred at both 70 and 40 and in comparable overall percentages for fresh seed or DS seed. Some of the experiments were closed prematurely. The seed was still firm arid, in retrospect, would probably have given further germination. The data is given in full. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70-40-70 none and 40-70(5%)-40(15%)-70(5%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70-40(6%)-70-40- 70(6%) and 40-70-40-70-40(15%)-70(15%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70-40-70- 40(4%)-70(4%)-40(4%-70(20%) and 40-70(5%)-40-70-40(20%)-70(25%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Allium p. 91. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 21, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 20, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  8. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 5 run on after germination.

about 15 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

6% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Allium p. 91Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). This genus showed much diversity. Germination patterns ranged from simple D-70 in A. pulchellum like A. karataviense gave some of the most extended germination observed. Germination occurred at both 70 and 40 and in comparable overall percentages for fresh seed or DS seed. Some of the experiments were closed prematurely. The seed was still firm arid, in retrospect, would probably have given further germination. The data is given in full. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70-40-70 none and 40-70(5%)-40(15%)-70(5%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70-40(6%)-70-40- 70(6%) and 40-70-40-70-40(15%)-70(15%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70-40-70- 40(4%)-70(4%)-40(4%-70(20%) and 40-70(5%)-40-70-40(20%)-70(25%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Allium p. 91. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 21, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 20, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    4 germinated in this phase.

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    4 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 5 run on after germination.

about 15 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

4% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Allium p. 91Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). This genus showed much diversity. Germination patterns ranged from simple D-70 in A. pulchellum like A. karataviense gave some of the most extended germination observed. Germination occurred at both 70 and 40 and in comparable overall percentages for fresh seed or DS seed. Some of the experiments were closed prematurely. The seed was still firm arid, in retrospect, would probably have given further germination. The data is given in full. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70-40-70 none and 40-70(5%)-40(15%)-70(5%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40-70-40(6%)-70-40- 70(6%) and 40-70-40-70-40(15%)-70(15%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70-40-70- 40(4%)-70(4%)-40(4%-70(20%) and 40-70(5%)-40-70-40(20%)-70(25%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Allium p. 91. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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