Please Identify this Backyard Allium (Onion or Leek or ?)

Help for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

Client:  I need help identifying the alliums in my backyard garden. These alliums have been growing in the backyard for 20+ years on their own. I always thought they were leeks but after pulling one out the other day to examine it, I'm not sure what it is anymore. It smells like an onion but it doesn't have all of the layers. Thank you for your help!

MGCC Help Desk Response:  Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk with your descriptions and photos of alliums found in your yard. Unfortunately, I can't make a positive identification from just the photos, but I believe what you have might be Allium triquetum, also known as Three-Cornered-Leeks. 

The description of A. triquetum is: 

•  leaves are mid-green with a rib running up one side that makes them more rigid;
•  spherical white bulbs that reproduce vegetatively by dividing;
•  white flowers atop a triangular stem in April and May;
•  the whole plant dies back after blooming and setting seed 

You can compare the group of photos (right) of Allium triquetum to compare to yours.

However, what is a little confusing is that there are no flowers evident in your photos, and this makes me question the identification. If you could bring us a sample of your plants, we would be able to do a more positive identification. Or you could send us photos of the flowers and confirmation that your plants die back after flowering.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Help Desk of the Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SEH)

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Note:  The  UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog  (//ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/). 

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