medicinal herbs
Small Yellow Onion
Allium flavum

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Small Yellow Onion

Latin name: Allium flavum

Family: Alliaceae (Onion Family)

Medicinal use of Small Yellow Onion:

Although no specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Dry slopes.

Edible parts of Small Yellow Onion:

Bulb - raw or cooked. The bulb is rather small, about 15mm tall and 10mm in diameter. Leaves - raw or cooked. Flowers - raw.

Other uses of the herb:

The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.

Propagation of Small Yellow Onion:

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle - if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division of the bulbs in late summer or the autumn. Larger bulbs can be planted straight out into their permanent positions, though it might be best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on for a year before planting them out.

Cultivation of the herb:

Dry slopes.

Known hazards of Allium flavum:

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

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.