An easily grown plant, it prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. It succeeds outdoors in N.W. England where it sets seed. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants. 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.

Young leaves - cooked as a vegetable. The dried leaves are used as a condiment in curries and pickles. Bulb - raw or cooked. Poorly developed and rather small. The cloves are used as a substitute for garlic. Flowers - raw. Used as a garnish on salads.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. 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. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division in spring. The plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season, pot up the divisions in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing well and then plant them out into their permanent positions.

Forest clearings and shrubberies, fully open to the monsoon rains, 2800 - 4300 metres from Pakistan to S.W. China.