Allium neapolitanum (daffodil garlic)

Japanese name: アリウム コワニー
Scientific name: Allium neapolitanum

[Overview]
A perennial that forms a bulb underground, with small bulblets around it.
The bulb is small and egg-shaped, 1–2 cm across.
The leaves grow from the base and are flat and strap-like, about 10–50 cm long.
A flower stalk 30–40 cm tall stands upright and bears an umbel at its tip with 15–20 flowers.
The inflorescence is at first enclosed in bracts.
The flowers are white, with 6 tepals that open in a star shape.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by dividing bulbs; when grown from seed, it takes several years from sowing to flowering.
It dislikes acidic soil.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
Take care that it does not become extremely dry, and during the growing period water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Apply basal fertilizer, and from spring until flowering give liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks.
The flower stalks stand upright, so plant it in a place sheltered from strong wind or provide stakes.
If you are not collecting seed, cut the flower stalk at the base when flowering is over so the plant does not become exhausted.
When the leaves begin to wither, dig up the bulbs and store them in a shady, well-ventilated place.
If the site is sunny and well drained, pests and diseases rarely occur.

[Notes]
It is sold under the name Allium cowanii (arium kowanii), from its scientific synonym Allium cowanii.

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