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Allium moly

Lily Leek · Yellow Garlic · Yellow Onion

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Allium

A dense patch of strap-shaped green leaves wet with rain, a few yellow star-shaped flowers and green buds showing among them
The whole plantH. ZellCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Bulb, Cool Season VegetableExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.8-1.5 ft25-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Algeria, France, Italy, Morocco, SpainGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

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

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Also called yellow garlic, golden garlic and lily leek. It comes from the Mediterranean and is edible. Wikipedia: Allium moly

Two sources report three treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    28 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

33% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Allium p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). A. moly germ. 40(28%)-70(33%) (2nd Ed.). Seeds all died after DS for 18 m.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Allium p. 18. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 22, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 77 days.

90% germination in 63–77 days.

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. moly germ. 40(90% in 9-11 w) for seed DS 6 m at 40. Germination extended over 3-5 cycles in all other treatments as shown by the following data. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70(3/9)-40-70 and 40(117)-70-40(317)-70. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 40- 70-40(3/9)-70(1/9)-40-70 and none over four cycles when sown at 70. Treatment with GA-3 led to total rotting at the seeds.
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 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 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

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.

33% 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. moly germ. 40(90% in 9-11 w) for seed DS 6 m at 40. Germination extended over 3-5 cycles in all other treatments as shown by the following data. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70(3/9)-40-70 and 40(117)-70-40(317)-70. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 40- 70-40(3/9)-70(1/9)-40-70 and none over four cycles when sown at 70. Treatment with GA-3 led to total rotting at the seeds.
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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