Allium carinatum, commonly known as keeled garlic or witch’s garlic, is a perennial herb native to a variety of habitats including grasslands, rocky outcrops, and open woodlands in central and southern Europe and Asiatic Turkey. It typically grows to a height of 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) with flat, linear leaves and a distinctive umbel of star-shaped, purple to reddish-purple flowers that bloom in mid to late summer. The flowers are particularly showy, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Keeled garlic is valued for its ornamental flowers and aromatic bulbs, which are used in culinary applications for their mild garlic flavor. It is suitable for border planting, rock gardens, and naturalized areas. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and thrives in well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal maintenance. In cultivation, it has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its excellence for garden use. While it is naturalized in the British Isles, it is not typically invasive and does not pose significant problems in cultivation. However, it can be susceptible to onion fly and thrips.CC BY-SA 4.0