These are species and varieties of onions with that do not grow very tall, and may be suited to use in a rock garden or riased bed, or growing in pots. They have clusters of flowers with pointed petals, which may be white, pink, purple, blue or, in a few cases, yellow.

Allium sibthorpianum is a delightful, elegant plant, with very slender leaves and umbels of pale, pink-purple flowers, paler when open than when in bud. It comes from Turkey, and is ideal for a trough or in a pot in an alpine house.