A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Pregnant Onion

Has anybody heard of a plant called a "Pregnant Onion"?

Seems that I gave one to my Daughter-in-law a couple years ago. (Just because it was weird!)
She just called to tell me that she has LOTS of babies from it, & wanted to know if I wanted some. (SURE! I'll take almost anything that's a plant!)

Now I need to find out what it "really" is, & how to take care of it.
(I figure it MUST thrive on sheer neglect, because my Daughter-in-law never remembers to water anything, & she said that she forgot she had it & that it's very happy!)

I have a pregnant onion(Ornithogalum longibracteatum). They are neat plants and easy to care for.

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Pregnant onion is easy and does well when neglected. And it is weird enough to make oddity hunters happy. The bulb sits above ground and the babies fall out through the skin. They land on the ground and start growing. The flowers aren't beautiful but they are interesting also. Can't think of the proper name right now. I am sending some to Triss and Lynne in their boxes tomorrow.
~Tina
Ornithogalum longibracteatum

Hey! You guys are quick! light (?)
Gardencrazy, is yours a house plant, or does it grow outside?

(If my Daughter-in-law forgot she had the plant, it was because she either set it outdoors because she didn't like it in the first place, or it's been under a pile of laundry for 2 years & didn't get much of anything... & survived!)

Patty, I see they are hardy in zones 9-10 and like Sun to partial shade. They also bloom in late spring/early summer. And ALL PARTS of the plant are POISIONOUS. So keep them away from the kiddos.

Patty, I have some growing in full sun, dappled light and in full shade. They all perform the same. They do need some water and some light. I doubt if they were under laundry for very long. They wouldn't have produced any babies. They will out-grow and split pots so they need dividing every so often.
You've just plumbed the depths of my knowlege on the subject.
~Tina

I don't know much about them, but I MIGHT be the father

Patty~ Mine is a houseplant. I am only zone 6. I have it sitting in a West facing window and it needs ample water. It has a paper skin like an onion and when it needs water it sorta shrinks under the skin.