# Naples garlic (*Allium neapolitanum*) Naples garlic is a special plant that grows beautiful white flowers. It has a yummy smell and is often used in cooking to make food taste better. This plant loves sunny places and can grow in gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Naples garlic](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Allium_neapolitanum_clump.jpg&width=800) Photo: Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allium_neapolitanum_clump.jpg) ## Appearance The Naples garlic has clusters of delicate, star-shaped white flowers that seem to float above its slender, grass-like green leaves. Its pristine white petals make it stand out beautifully in a garden or natural setting. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Amaryllidaceae - **Genus:** Allium ## Interesting facts - It smells like garlic, but its delicate white flowers are a beautiful spring surprise! - Its scientific name, Allium neapolitanum, literally means 'garlic from Naples!' - Some people call it 'flowering onion' because it’s a relative of onions and chives! - The entire plant, from bulb to flower, can be eaten and adds a mild garlic flavor! ## Special abilities - **Underground Storage:** Naples garlic stores energy in its bulb that helps it survive harsh conditions and regrow each year. - **Pungent Power:** Naples garlic produces a strong garlicky scent that can deter some hungry animals from eating its leaves. - **Clump Creator:** This plant grows in dense clumps that help it compete with other plants for sunlight and space. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-50 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honey bees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Bumblebees are important pollinators of its flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails and slugs sometimes feed on the leaves. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching plants, and don't eat any parts unless an adult says it's okay! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Naples garlic? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Naples garlic? 20-50 cm ### How wide does Naples garlic spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on Naples garlic? 1-2 cm ### When does Naples garlic bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is Naples garlic edible? Yes ### Is Naples garlic toxic? None ### What is Naples garlic's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Columbia State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Naples garlic: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/naples-garlic)