Herb with ovoid bulbs. Leaves 4-10, linear, flat, rough-margined,much shorter than stem. Inflorescence 80-150 cm, stem solid, spathe 1. Flowers up to 500, bulbils sometimes present, 6-16 mm long, cup- to bell-shaped; summer.Tepals pink to dark red, papillate, spreading. Stamens longer than tepals, free. [A. murrayanum Regel]
Southern Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa
Sometimes grown in gardens as a border plant in full sun.The cultivated garden leek 'A. porrum' is derived from this species.
Great Headed Garlic has the tendency to produce a single clove (called a round) one year followed by a group of cloves the next year. The large cloves have a rather bland flavour compared with the commercial clove.
Plants with purple flowers are occasionally available.
Source: (2005). Alliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.