Allium 'Cristo'
garlic 'Cristo'
Strongly flavoured French soft neck garlic with a mild aroma producing pure white skinned bulbs and pinkish cloves. It has good storage capability and can be planted in autumn or spring ready for harvest in summer
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Neutral, AlkalineColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Skin irritant/allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: TOXIC if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
- Genus
Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Although it can be planted in any soil, it prefers fertile well-drained soil and full sun, it won't respond so well in heavy soil. Each bulb has an average of 12 cloves that can be individually planted in autumn or spring 1 inch below the soil surface, 4 inches apart, with 18 inches between rows. Watering will only be necessary during very dry spells. Harvest from July when the leaves start yellowing. Can be stored for up to three months. See GYO advice profile on garlic for further information
Propagation
Propagate by dividing the bulb in cloves.
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to allium leaf miner and onion fly
Diseases
May be susceptible to onion white rot, and onion downy mildew
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.