Allium triquetrum

Dear THGA,

I thought I should tell you that Allium triquetrum is 
not Leucojum aestivum(snowflake). The rather 
impressionistic drawing of snowflake in the Sunset 
Garden Book could be mistaken for Allium triquetrum, but 
the plant itself looks quite different. The petal tips 
of Leucojum aestivum are marked with a green dot. The 
petals of Allium triquetrum have a green line running 
vertically their entire length. And, as far as I know, 
the leaves and flower stems of Leucojum are not 
triangular in cross-section (the Sunset Bulbs book says 
the leaves of Leucojum are "grasslike"), while those of 
Allium triquetrum are triangular. Finally, I don't think 
that the Leucojum plant has an onion smell when crushed, 
which Allium triquetrum definitely does. (Has anyone 
smelled a Leucojum plant?)

Sunset probably doesn't include Allium triquetrum in its 
ornamental listings because it is considered primarily a 
weed. I do wish their weed list (see pages 727-728 of 
the 2000 edition) were a little longer, but I suspect 
this plant isn't a weed of most of the West as they 
define it. 

Do you think you have Allium triquetrum, after this 
description?

Pam Peirce
San Francisco
> I'm coming in late on this conversation (typical!) but the ID I'd come 
> up with in my Sunset Western Garden book is Leucojum Aestivum, 
> commom name Snowflake (definitely NOT to be confused with 
> Snowdrop!). At least, the line drawing sure looks like this little pest. 
> And, true to Sunset Western Garden book form, there is NO 
> mention of its true nature. 
> 
> Chris - THGA, off to admire this Spring's crop of Oxalis . . .  :-P
> 
> > Christine Caliandro wrote:
> > > 
> > > Is there another name for Allium triquetrum?  I tried to mark it in
> > > my Sunset Western Garden Book but could not find a listing.
> > > Christine Caliandro Santa Rosa, CA
> > 
> > Hi Christine
> > The only thing anybody here bothers to call it is Onion Weed. it is
> > indeed a pestilential weed, spreading inexorably through shrubberies
> > and flowerbeds with its close set clumps and even trying to colonise
> > lawns (though reasonably easy to defeat there by regular close
> > mowing.) I know all about getting rid of it, having come across it in
> > numerous properties when I had my garden maintenance business. Should
> > you ever have the need, I can give you a very effective plan of
> > eradication I worked out myself, which will actually get rid of it in
> > a couple of years, though not always prevent reinfestation from the
> > neighbours!
> > 
> > It just happens not to have got much of a hold in my suburb and has
> > never appeared in my street as far as I know, and I for one intend to
> > keep it so.
> > 
> > Incidently, many other ornamental and useful Alliums, while not
> > uncontrollable, can do with watching, as they can also become a
> > nuisence. Most often the spread seems to be largely by seed, so
> > deadheading is advisable. Two which I prefer to deadhead for this
> > reaason are A. neapolitanum and Chinese (onion) chives. Moira -- Tony
> > & Moira Ryan Wainuiomata NZ, where it's Summer in January and Winter
> > in July.
> > 
> > 
> > 
>
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