Green Onion
Allium fistulosum
Green onions are slender, mild alliums grown for their hollow green tops and small white bases. Fast and forgiving, they are among the easiest plants to grow and even regrow from rooted bases.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular; keep evenly moist
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
"Green onion" covers several young onions grown before forming a large bulb, most often the bunching onion Allium fistulosum, but also immature common onions (Allium cepa). They are also called scallions or spring onions.
Bunching onions are perennial, clump-forming alliums that rarely bulb, instead producing tender white shanks topped with hollow green leaves.
Quick to grow, cold-tolerant and easy to regrow from rooted bases, green onions are a beginner-friendly plant for gardens, containers and windowsills alike.
How to identify it
- Habit: Slender, upright clump of grass-like onion plants, usually 30-45 cm (12-18 in) tall
- Leaves: Long, hollow, cylindrical, blue-green tubes
- Base: Slim white shank with little or no bulb swelling (in bunching types)
- Flowers: Round, papery clusters of small white-green flowers if allowed to bolt
- Aroma: Mild onion scent when cut
Care & growing
Light: Full sun is best, though they tolerate light shade.
Water: Keep soil consistently moist for tender growth.
Soil: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil; pH 6.0-7.0.
Temperature: Cool-tolerant and hardy; grows in spring, autumn and mild winters.
Feeding: Light feeder; a little balanced fertilizer or compost keeps growth steady.
Propagation: From seed, sets, or by replanting the rooted white bases of store-bought green onions, which regrow readily.
Habitat & origin
The Welsh or bunching onion (Allium fistulosum) is native to Asia, with a long history of cultivation in China, Japan and Korea.
Green onions are now grown worldwide in temperate and subtropical gardens and farms. Their tolerance of cold and crowding makes them suitable almost anywhere with a moderate growing season.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between green onions, scallions and spring onions?
The terms overlap. Scallion and green onion are usually interchangeable; "spring onion" sometimes refers to ones with a slightly more developed bulb.
Can I really regrow green onions from rooted bases?
Yes. Place the rooted white ends in water or soil and the green tops will regrow within days.
Do green onions come back every year?
Bunching types (Allium fistulosum) are perennial and form clumps that can be divided for years.
How do I keep the plant producing when cutting the tops?
Snip the green tops a few inches above the base and the plant will keep producing, or lift whole plants when you want the white shank too.
Green Onion guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Green Onion.
