Pink Lily Leek is an ornamental onion native to Eurasia that blooms May-June for 2 to 3 weeks in a loose umbel of 10 to 15 rosy-red flowers. The pink lily leek is from the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) and is often used in mass plantings, borders, rock gardens or interspersed among perennials. Plant bulbs in the fall 4 to 5 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. Flowers generally reach 8 to 12 inches tall with flat linear leaves that stay attractive until mid-summer when they die back. Pink lily leek will naturalize and spread slowly to form a colony. Pruning is not required beyond removing dead stems and foliage. Pink lily leek was designated a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit as a short to mid-sized flower well suited for use in rock or alpine gardens and its attractive, bell-shaped flowers. The pink lily leek works well in a variety of landscapes. It can be used to naturalize woodland areas and is also suitable for small patio, rock and container gardens. It is drought tolerant and attracts pollinators. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Bulb rot can occur in too moist soi l. Bulb mites can occur. Flowers have a mildly bitter flavor and can be eaten in small quantities. It is considered mildly toxic. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Allium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Flat linear gray-green leaves are semi-erect and longer than the scape with an odor of onions or garlic.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Rosy-red with a darker midvein. Individual flowers are small, 6-parted, and in a cluster at the top of a naked stem.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Wiry greenish-red stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
E. Turkey to NW. China and NW. Pakistan
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Flowers have a mildly bitter flavor and like young leaves and bulbs can be eaten in small quantities raw in salads and sandwiches or cooked in tea and soups. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Poisonous if ingested. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems)