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Common Name:

General Information

Nothoscordum gracile is a Bulb up to 0.45 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South America. A garden escape in south-eastern N. America and Britain.

Habitat

Sandy roadsides, woods and cultivated ground in southeastern N. America[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.45 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a light sandy soil in a sunny position[].
This species reproduces freely when in good growing conditions and has become a weed in some gardens[].
The flowers have a rich, sweet lily-like perfume[].

Edible Uses

Bulb - raw or cooked. A garlic substitute[], it is used as a spice[, , ]. The bulb is about 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame[]. Spring sown seed germinates freely[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in spring.
Division of offsets after the leaves die down in summer. Larger bulbs can be replanted immediately into their permanent positions. It is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on for a year before planting them out when dormant in late summer.