Allium siculum
Common name: Sicilian Honey Garlic
Allium siculum, or Sicilian Honey Garlic, is a species of Allium native to the areas around the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Grown as an ornamental, it has showy umbels of dangling, bell-shaped florets which are produced in May and June. Each umbel emerges from a papery sheath and has numerous blossoms that are grayish-green, cream, and pinkish or wine-coloured. These flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators. Just before forming seedheads, the florets turn upward.
The leaves of A. siculum are unique. They are long and lance-like and triangular in cross section, twisting in an unusual manner. The foliage usually browns after the plant flowers. A. siculum stems are tall and leafless and reach about one metre (three feet) in height. Like other alliums, A. siculum stems exude a strong, garlicky scent when bruised or cut. If the stem is plunged in cold water, the scent can be eliminated.
This plant's former name was Nectaroscordum siculum. Nectaroscordum means 'garlic that produces nectar'. The specific epithet 'siculum' means 'of Sicily'.
Allium siculum, which unlike other alliums, tolerates shady conditions, can be found in Bed 58B of the Mediterranean Garden.