Allium ramosum
Origin: China via Maine
Improvement status: Cultivated wild material
Seeds per packet: ~60
Germination tested 10/2025: 86%
Life cycle: Perennial
'Hun Ken' is a traditional cultivar/landrace of fragrant flowered garlic collected near the city of Qiqihar in northeastern China in 1956 by researchers with an expedition led by the German government-affiliated agricultural research institute at Gatersleben (Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzen. This species is native to northern Asia and appears to have a history of both wild collection and cultivation in that region, though it is quite unusual in cultivation in this country. It's reliably perennial to zone 5, and maybe colder. Both the flavorful leaves and flowers are eaten.
This exciting seed comes our way from our friend and collaborator Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Falmouth, Maine.
GROWING TIPS: 'Hun Ken' does best in full sun and good soil, but probably tolerates partial shade and less then great soil. Sown in spring, it generally germinates fine in warm conditions, but if germination is slow, try alternating temperatures.
