They are known botanically as Allium cepa, var. proliferum, (Proliferum group) otherwise known as Synonym --- L' oignon D'Egypte, or, the Onion of Egypt, Egyptian onion, Egyptian tree onion, top onion, and perennial onion.
The tree onion plant resembles a green onion plant, or more generally a shallot. Rocambole, a top setting garlic, is alike, but it has flat leaves instead of the hollow leaves of the tree onion.
Of course the part used is the bulb. The Tree Onion is an unusual type of Onion that produces bulblets at the top of a strong stem about 2 feet high. Instead of seeds, a cluster of small bulblets appear which are green at first, but turn into a brownish-red colour which are about the size of hazel nuts. The stems bear so many of these bulblets so heavily that they require support to keep them upright.
The Tree Onion was introduced from Canada in 1820. The French named it 'l'oignon d'Egypte,' but there is no proof that it is a native of Egypt. It is probably the common Onion introduced from France into Canada by the early colonists and affected and changed by the different climate. A few bulbs are also produced underground as well as the Onions on the stem.
The Tree Onion is propagated from the small stem bulbs that are produced, planted 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart, in rows 8 inches apart. This is a general rule of thumb and I planted mine approximately like this.I planted them in a small no-dig garden that I built and grew tomatoes in, in the previous year. I had re-done the bed with some more straw, soil and blood and bone and was perfect for the onions. I also planted some of the giant garlic in the same beds and I will hopefully feature these in an article later on.
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