Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum)
Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum) is a bulbous (or similar) plant that can grow 10cm – 50cm tall and up to 10cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum).
This plant is commonly known as Lombardy garlic.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 1 year to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: Lombardy garlic
Scientific name: Allium insubricum
Plant type: Bulbs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 10cm – 50cm
Spread: Up to 10cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Clay, Loam
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Coastal, Informal Garden, Patio & Container Garden, Rock & Gravel Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators, RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum) – Michael Wolf, Penig, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bulbous plants are found all over the world in habitats as diverse as woods, meadows, riverbanks, rocky hills and mountains.
There are bulbs suitable for all types of garden design.
Most have their own limited flowering season, but with careful planning it is possible to combine this period of interest with the other plants in the garden.
Other types of Allium to consider:
See all Allium
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum) is a plant that prefers to grow in clay or loam.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Allium insubricum likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Lombardy garlic (Allium insubricum) – Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
