An easily grown plant, it prefers a sunny position in a rich moist but well-drained soil. Tolerates most soils, including clay. Tolerant of dry soils, established plants also resist drought. Tolerates some shade, even in N.W. England. The roots penetrate up to 50cm into the soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 8.3. This plant succeeds in temperate and tropical climates. It appears to be fully hardy in Britain. Plants tolerate 40 degrees of frost in Manchuria (the report does not say if this is fahrenheit or centigrade). Plants remain green until temperatures fall below 4 - 5°c, they come into new growth in spring when temperatures go above 2 - 3°c. Often cultivated for its edible leaves and bulb in the Orient, there are many named varieties. There are two main types of cultivar, one is grown for its leaves and the other for its flowering stem.This species is being increasingly grown as a garden vegetable in Britain. A very ornamental plant, it grows well as an edging plant in the flower garden. Closely related to A. ramosum. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Leaves - raw or cooked. A mild flavor, somewhat like a cross between garlic and chives, they are delicious in salads. The flavor is destroyed by lengthy cooking. The leaves are available from early spring until late in the autumn. They contain about 2.6% protein, 0.6% fat, 2.4% carbohydrate, 0.95% ash. They also contain small amounts of vitamins A, B1 and C. The rather small bulbs are about 10mm in diameter and are produced in clusters on a short rhizome. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked. A delicious flavoring and pretty garnish for the autumn salad bowl. Root - raw or cooked. An edible oil is obtained from the seed.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed has a fairly short viability and should not be used when more than 1 year old. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle - if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Plant out in late summer if the plants have developed sufficiently, otherwise plant them out the following spring. Division in early spring. Very easy, the plants divide successfully at almost any time of the year. The divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required.

Not known in a truly wild situation.