Climbing onion is a large, exposed, green, scaly bulb in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). It is a succulent perennial that thrives in the dry desert regions of eastern and southern Africa, but outside of its native environment, it is more often grown as a houseplant or as a specimen plant. Climbing onion prefers gritty, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Water regularly during the growing season, and rarely, if at all, during dormancy. Propagate from bulblets that form at the base of the plant and can be removed in late summer or fall. Or a thick outer fleshy peel of the bulb scale can be cut from the mother bulb, divided and planted to form bulblets. In spring, small, green-white star-shaped flowers appear along the largely leafless stems that grow from a large bulb. The stems will twine around a sturture or themselves and grow up to 15 feet tall outdoors, but closer to 6 feet as a house plant. Use this bulb in a container in a bright sunny window. It can be taken outdoors in the summer and brought inside before the temperature drops below 50 degrees F. It can also be grown in a greenhouse. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
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) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Climbing
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Insignificant
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The stems act as leaves
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, green-white flowers appear along the stems.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Produces three-chambered capsules in its native habitat but rately as a house[ plant.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
In late winter, vining stems emerge from the bulb and grow up any nearby support. As they mature, dense lacy branches form. When fall arrives, the growth dies back.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Uganda to South Africa
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Despite its common name, it is not an edible onion.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The plant has medicinal properties
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Specimen
Garden tags
#succulent #flowering bulb #bulb #low maintenance #easy to grow houseplant #climber #problem for dogs #poisonous #problem for cats
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs
Toxic if large quantities are eaten. Minor skin irritation lasting only a few minutes. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, slow pulse; contact with bulb can cause irritation of wet skin