Egyptian Walking Onions

Allium x proliferum

Egyptian Walking Onions are one of the garden's most unusual perennial vegetables. Instead of producing flowers and seeds like a typical onion, they form clusters of small bulbils, called topsets, at the tops of their stalks. As the topsets mature, the stalks bend toward the ground, allowing the bulbils to root and establish new plants and giving the onion its distinctive name. 

Nearly the entire plant is edible. The green leaves can be harvested like scallions, while the small topsets and underground bulbs can be used much like pearl onions. Unlike most annual vegetables, an established patch can continue producing year after year with relatively little attention. 

Location: Give Egyptian Walking Onions a permanent home where they can remain undisturbed from year to year. They work particularly well in edible landscapes, herb gardens, food forests, and other perennial plantings. Leave enough room for the clumps to expand and for topsets to fall and establish new plants, or harvest the topsets and plant new onions where you want them.

Height: 2–3 feet

Spread: 1–2 feet

Light: Full sun is ideal. They can tolerate some light shade, and a little afternoon protection can be beneficial in very hot climates.

Soil: Egyptian Walking Onions tolerate a range of soils but perform best in fertile, well-drained soil with good organic matter. Avoid locations that remain consistently waterlogged, as excessive moisture can increase the risk of bulb and root rot. A soil pH around 6.0–8.0 is suitable.

Water: Keep newly planted topsets consistently moist while they establish. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant, but regular moisture during active growth encourages better foliage and topset production. During their summer dormancy, watering can be reduced substantially.

Heat Tolerance: Good. Established plants can handle substantial summer heat, but prolonged temperatures above 90°F can reduce topset production. In very hot climates, afternoon shade and adequate moisture can help.

Cold Tolerance: Excellent. Egyptian Walking Onions are exceptionally cold hardy and can remain perennial through winters that would kill many garden vegetables.

USDA Hardiness: Generally Zones 4–9. Individual growing conditions and plant material can affect performance at the extremes of the range.

Propagation: Egyptian Walking Onions are remarkably easy to propagate. Simply plant the topsets produced at the end of the stalks, or divide established clumps. Topsets can root naturally wherever they fall when they have sufficient moisture and contact with the soil.

Harvest: The green leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season once plants are established. The topsets are generally harvested as they mature, while the underground bulbs can be harvested as needed. Remember that digging the underground bulb removes that plant, so leave some bulbs in place if you want the patch to continue growing.