Allium Elburzense

A tiny onion from the rocky Elburz Mountains of northern Iran, Allium elburzense forms one or two leaves and a short stem topped by a compact rounded head of pink to purplish flowers. The entire plant may stand little more than a hand high, yet its concentrated colour and neat proportions give it real presence in an alpine pot. In its native region the leaves are known as valak and are traditionally gathered, but in cultivation the species is valued chiefly as a rare ornamental. It is adapted to cold mountain winters followed by hot, dry dormancy and must be protected from persistent wet.