Common Name: Alpine Leek

General Information

Allium victorialis is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing 2 - 3 leaves 10 - 22cm long and a flowering scape 25 - 80cm tall from an underground bulb. The bulb usually divides, forming in time a cluster of plants[, ].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It used to be a very popular wild food in Siberia, where it was often collected in bulk and salted for winter use, though it is less used nowadays[]. It is sometimes cultivated as a food crop in the Caucasus[]

Known Hazards

Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in very large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Europe - Germany to Portugal and Spain, east to Ukraine and Bulgaria; W. Asia - Caucasus; E. Asia - Pakistan to Nepal; N. America - Alaska

Habitat

Rocky and stony places in mountains, usually on calcareous soils[]. Forests, shady and moist slopes, pastures and streamsides at elevations from 600 - 2,500 metres in China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Allium victorialis
Requires a sunny position in a light well-drained soil[, ].
The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply[]. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants[].

Edible Uses

Bulb - raw or cooked[]. An onion substitute[]. The plants are as pungent as garlic[]. The bulbs are rather small, about 10 - 20mm in diameter, and are produced in clusters on a short rhizome[].

Leaves - raw or cooked. The stems and leaves are eaten[, ], they are much favoured in Japan[]. The leaves are a rich source of vitamin C[].

Flowers - raw or cooked.

Medicinal

Fresh juice from the leaves and bulbs, mixed with sugar, is used for the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract[]. According to Armenian medieval healers onion improves vision, onion juice prevents the development of cataracts in the early stages[].
Fresh or cooked onions are applied topically to treat certain skin diseases, especially abrasions and sores)[].

A tincture of the plant has antimicrobial properties and is used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, colitis, and diarrhoea. Alcohol tinctures regulate blood pressure improve the elasticity of capillaries[].

The root is antiscorbutic, carminative, diuretic and vermifuge[, , , ].
Used in the treatment of profuse menstruation[, , ].

Agroforestry Uses:

Allium species usually grow well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but they inhibit the growth of legumes[, , ]. They are, in general, bad companions for alfalfa - each species negatively affecting the other[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Other Uses

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the juice of most species in this genus (especially those with a strong onion or garlic smell) can be used as a moth repellent[].
The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse or cold frame. It germinates quickly and can be grown on in the greenhouse for the first year, planting out the dormant bulbs in the late summer of the following year if they have developed sufficiently, otherwise grow on in pots for a further year. Stored seed can be sown in spring in a greenhouse.
Division in summer after the plants have died down. Fairly easy, though we have found that it is best to pot up the divisions until they are growing away strongly before planting them out into their permanent positions[].