Nursery / Perennial
Allium x proliferum

Egyptian Walking Onion

The most self-sufficient allium in the garden. It plants itself - topset bulbils form at the tips and bend to the ground, walking outward by a foot or two each year.

Egyptian Walking Onion

Egyptian walking onion is a genuine perennial vegetable, planted once and harvested indefinitely without replanting. Unlike a regular onion grown from sets each year, this plant produces topset bulbils at the tip of each stalk, which arch over under their own weight and root wherever they touch soil - hence the name.

Harvest the greens as scallions all season long, then the bulbils themselves in fall, used exactly like small shallots. The plant essentially expands its own footprint year over year with zero effort from you, making it one of the lowest-maintenance food plants available.

Common questions

Before you plant.

  • Will it take over my garden?It spreads gradually, a foot or two per year, by rooting its own topset bulbils. Harvest the bulbils before they root if you want to control the spread.
  • What part do I eat?Both - the green stalks work as scallions all season, and the bulbils at the top are harvested in fall and used like small shallots.
  • Do I need to replant it every year?No - this is the whole point of the plant. It is a genuine perennial that propagates itself.
  • How much care does it need?Very little. Occasional dividing of established clumps every few years is optional, not required.
  • How do the bulbils taste?Strong and onion-sharp, a little like a shallot. They pickle and roast well.
  • Can I grow it in a container?Yes. A pot at least 8 inches deep works, and keeps the walking contained.

    • Planting & Growing Information

    Ships as
    Bulbil sets, established clump
    Hardiness zone
    3-9
    Mature height
    2-3 ft, arching stalks
    Water needs
    Low to moderate
    Sun / shade
    Full sun to part shade
    Bloom season
    Bulbils form at stalk tips in summer, not a true flower
    Care
    Essentially none - divide clumps every few years if desired
    Attributes
    Perennial, self-propagating, harvest greens and bulbs from the same plant
    Ships to
    Most US states. We do not currently ship live plants to California, Arizona, Hawaii, or Florida due to state agricultural restrictions. Local pickup is available in Great Falls, Virginia.
    Plants that pair well

    Good company
    for your egyptian walking onion.

    Yarrow
    Yarrow
    A tough perennial companion that thrives under the same easy-care conditions.
    Fig Tree
    Fig Tree
    Works well as a low ground-layer planting at the drip line of a young fig.
    Currant Bush
    Currant Bush
    Alliums are a traditional companion for fruiting shrubs, thought to help deter certain pests.
    Perennial onion

    Plant once.
    Harvest for years.

    Walking onion is a true perennial vegetable. Instead of flowers it grows clusters of small bulbs at the top of each stalk, which bend over under their weight and root where they land.

    That habit means a patch slowly walks across the bed and never needs replanting. You harvest greens in spring, scallions through the season, and the topset bulbs in late summer.

    It is also one of the first green things to push up in late winter, which makes it a welcome early harvest.

    • Topset bulbilsThe simplest way to start a patch. Plant them in late summer or fall.
    • Established clumpsDivisions with roots, for a faster first harvest.
    • Current stockInventory varies by season and batch. Contact us to confirm what is available now, and in what size.

    What to know before you buy

    Plant bulbils about 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart, in late summer or fall.

    Any reasonably drained soil works. Walking onion is not fussy.

    Harvest the topsets before they touch the ground if you want to keep the patch in place.

    Divide crowded clumps every few years to keep the bulbs a useful size.

    Sizes and formats

    What we ship.

    Plants ship in the dormant seasons, late fall and early spring, with local pickup in Great Falls. Availability changes by batch, so ask if you need a particular size.

    Egyptian Walking Onion
    Egyptian Walking Onion
    Allium x proliferum
    A self-propagating perennial onion: greens, scallions and shallot-like topsets from one planting.
    Food bearingPerennial
    Available as: bulbil sets, established clump
    Wholesale and bulk

    Planting at scale.

    We supply landscapers, nurseries, farms and larger residential projects with egyptian walking onion in quantity. Stock is seasonal and limited, so get in touch ahead of your planting window and we will plan around your order.

    Ask about wholesale →
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    Planning an orchard, guild or garden around this plant? An on-site consult in the DC area starts at $250, a written Remote Strategy at $1,500, or start small with a free guide.