A friend gave me a plant a few years ago and said it was a
pregnant onion. Can you tell me what it is and give me more information about
it?
The pregnant onion is a South African native and member of
the lily family known botanically as Ornithogalum
longibracteatum. Most gardeners grow it as a houseplant but those in
zones 9 and 10 can keep it outdoors year round. The common name reflects its similarity to an onion and
interesting means of reproduction.
Small swellings (bulblets) form on the above ground bulb. These mature, drop to the ground, and
start new plants. Grow pregnant
onions in a sunny window. Those
growing outdoors benefit from a bit of mid day shade. Water thoroughly and allow the soil to dry before watering
again. Mature plants in ideal
conditions may produce lightly fragrant white flowers in spring and summer.