Bells of Summer (Nectaroscordum)
One of the oddest looking plants in our garden, which is blooming right now, is Nectaroscordum (Nectaroscordum siculum var. bulgaricum, AKA Allium bulgaricum, Sicilian Honey Lily and Mediterranean Bells).
For years I didn’t know any of its many names and simply called it “ornamental onion” – imprecise for sure, but not incorrect. Nectaroscordum is indeed a member of the Allium (onion) family, a bulb native to southern France, Italy and Sicily.
I’ve never tried it, but apparently its thick, strappy leaves are edible, tasting mildly like garlic. In Bulgaria, people grow Nectaroscordum not as an ornamental, but to eat like chives on baked potatoes or in salads.
It’s sometimes called Sicilian Honey Garlic, because of its supposedly sweet and spicy aroma – although our plants never seem to have much fragrance. No matter: it’s the unusual appearance that makes Nectaroscordum one of my favorite garden flowers. Each June I look forward to seeing the graceful pendants of bell-shaped blooms radiating down from the tops of the plants like umbrellas.
I’m not the only one who enjoys this oddball: the hummingbirds love Nectaroscordum too, and so do the bees. But fortunately for us, the slugs and deer don’t like it at all!
Eye on Environment 
What an interesting plant. I take it from its distribution that it probably likes very dry feet, rocky places, or sandy soil? It would look nice in my garden too, except it is a bit of a pond in the winter.
I think you’re likely right about its preferences, since it’s from the Med. But our garden is very wet in winter too, and it survives. That said, it has never really spread, unlike all my other bulbs.
Laurie, what tender looking flowers, so very pretty. I wonder if, perhaps, the sweet and spicy aroma would be more evident while being sauteed? It might be a good and tasty experiment!
Good idea, Connie – if only I had more of them, I would try it!