Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Allium neapolitanum

Ornamental Onion · Cottonball Flowering Onion · Naples Garlic · Naples Onion · Neapolitan Garlic · White Garlic

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Allium

Also published as Allium album. You are in the right place.

Loose heads of white star-shaped flowers on slender stems, among strap leaves on a mossy bank
FlowerMeneerke bloemCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Safety

Toxicity
Poisonous to cattle, horses, children. Bulbs, lleaves. SMCO. Stated for Allium spp.Plants Poisonous to Livestock

The plant

Habit
BulbExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1.5 ft15-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Albania, Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
7-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension 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; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science.

Worth knowing

  • Neapolitan garlic has collected many common names, among them Naples garlic, daffodil garlic, false garlic, Guernsey star-of-Bethlehem and wood garlic. Wikipedia: Allium neapolitanum

Two sources report 9 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around August 20, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 19, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 49 days.

100% germination in 49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nothoscordum (Liliaceae). N. inodorum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/3 in 9th w), 70L-40(2/2 in 8-12 w), and 40(2/2 in 7th w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(1/10 in 4th w)-40(3/10 in 3rd w) and 40(4/9 in 7th w)-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around May 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on May 7, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 63 days.

100% germination in 63 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nothoscordum (Liliaceae). N. inodorum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/3 in 9th w), 70L-40(2/2 in 8-12 w), and 40(2/2 in 7th w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(1/10 in 4th w)-40(3/10 in 3rd w) and 40(4/9 in 7th w)-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 84 days.

100% germination in 56–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nothoscordum (Liliaceae). N. inodorum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/3 in 9th w), 70L-40(2/2 in 8-12 w), and 40(2/2 in 7th w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(1/10 in 4th w)-40(3/10 in 3rd w) and 40(4/9 in 7th w)-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on February 15, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 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 Light: dark

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 49 days.

44% germination in 49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nothoscordum (Liliaceae). N. inodorum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/3 in 9th w), 70L-40(2/2 in 8-12 w), and 40(2/2 in 7th w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(1/10 in 4th w)-40(3/10 in 3rd w) and 40(4/9 in 7th w)-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 16, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 15, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1/10 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 15 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 21 days.

30% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nothoscordum (Liliaceae). N. inodorum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/3 in 9th w), 70L-40(2/2 in 8-12 w), and 40(2/2 in 7th w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(1/10 in 4th w)-40(3/10 in 3rd w) and 40(4/9 in 7th w)-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nothoscordum p. 50. 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 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Allium p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). A. alba germ. 70D(97% in 1-8 w), 70 GA-3(100% in 2nd w), 70L{100% in 2-5 w), 40-70D(93% in 3 d-2 w), and OT{100% in first 2 w of Nov. from seeds placed outdoors in mid-Oct). The data suggest that OS and GA-3 gave a modest increase to the rate of germination.
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 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing.

100% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Allium p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). A. alba germ. 70D(97% in 1-8 w), 70 GA-3(100% in 2nd w), 70L{100% in 2-5 w), 40-70D(93% in 3 d-2 w), and OT{100% in first 2 w of Nov. from seeds placed outdoors in mid-Oct). The data suggest that OS and GA-3 gave a modest increase to the rate of germination.
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 8

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

97% germination in 7–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Allium p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). A. alba germ. 70D(97% in 1-8 w), 70 GA-3(100% in 2nd w), 70L{100% in 2-5 w), 40-70D(93% in 3 d-2 w), and OT{100% in first 2 w of Nov. from seeds placed outdoors in mid-Oct). The data suggest that OS and GA-3 gave a modest increase to the rate of germination.
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 9

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 14 days.

93% germination in 3–14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Allium p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Allium (Liliaceae). A. alba germ. 70D(97% in 1-8 w), 70 GA-3(100% in 2nd w), 70L{100% in 2-5 w), 40-70D(93% in 3 d-2 w), and OT{100% in first 2 w of Nov. from seeds placed outdoors in mid-Oct). The data suggest that OS and GA-3 gave a modest increase to the rate of germination.
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.

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

Add to My Garden

View species page