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 unifolium is a neat, short, allium with slender grey-green leaves that die back before the flowers are open. In spring bright, open, bell-shaped, deep pink flowers are produced in umbels of up to 20. It is also sometimes known as Allium murrayanum.