Egyptian Walking Onions (Allium proliferum)
Egyptian Walking Onions—also known as Tree Onions, Top Onions, Winter Onions, or Perennial Onions—are a truly unique, hardy perennial onion that keeps on producing year after year with very little effort. As the botanical name Allium proliferum suggests, these are incredibly prolific plants that naturally multiply and “walk” their way through the garden as the bulbils replant themselves.
Unlike traditional onions grown from seed, these are far easier to establish and maintain, with a much higher success rate and none of the fiddly transplanting. Once planted, they become a reliable, self-perpetuating food source that can provide harvests for many years. The greens, small bulbs, and bulbils are all edible, making them a versatile and productive addition to any vegetable garden or food forest.
Each bag contains 10 bulbils/topsets. A single bulbil, in good growing conditions, can produce 2–4 medium-sized onions in its first season.
Growing Instructions
Plant your bulbils between mid-April and mid-September (depending on your local climate) in a well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. We recommend planting the bulbils as soon as you receive them from us as they can perish in storage.
Before planting, enrich your soil with well-rotted manure, buried Bokashi scraps, or compost, and apply a generous layer of mature compost or vermicast to build fertility and support strong growth.
Plant bulbils just below the soil surface, spacing them approximately 17cm apart. After planting, apply a thin layer of mulch using materials such as woodchips, autumn leaves, seaweed, or straw. In early stages, it is recommended to cover the bed with bird netting, as birds can sometimes disturb newly planted bulbils.
Water and weed regularly, particularly during spring and summer growth. Add additional mulch in spring around the plants to conserve moisture and support strong bulb development through the warmer months.
Harvesting & Regrowth
Harvest typically occurs at the end of summer, depending on your climate—generally between early January and mid-March.
To maintain your planting stock, keep the largest bulbils from the flower heads for replanting the following season. In some cases, bulbils may not form; if this happens, you can replant smaller onions from the cluster to continue your crop.
If your goal is to grow larger onions, remove flower stalks as they appear to redirect energy into bulb development. However, be sure to leave some plants to flower so they can produce bulbils for future planting.
A highly productive, self-sustaining onion system—perfect for gardeners looking to build resilience, reduce inputs, and enjoy reliable harvests year after year.
Above: The Egyptian walking onions just before harvesting. With a great amount and size of bulbils for seeds for next season.
Above: Well developed topsets.
Above: One topset grew this cluster of onions.
We absolutely love these onions because they are so much easier and more reliable than growing onions from seed. There is no fiddly transplanting, and the success rate is significantly higher. Once established, they become a dependable perennial food source, and the bulbs store well for up to 1 year in a cool, dry place.
At KoruKai Herb Farm, we started with just 8 bulbils 10 years ago. By the second year we were already harvesting around 70 bulbils, and now we grow enough onions to see us through the entire year. We use them in almost every meal! In one planting example, we planted 175 bulbils in May 2018 and harvested 25kg of onions by February 2019, demonstrating just how productive they can become over time.
Health & Traditional Use
Onions have long been valued both as a food and as a traditional herbal plant. Regular consumption of onions is associated with a range of supportive effects on overall health, and they share many beneficial compounds with garlic, which is why they are often used in similar ways.
Traditionally, onions have been used to support cardiovascular health. They are known for their ability to support healthy circulation and may assist in maintaining healthy blood flow and lipid balance. Onions have also been used in traditional herbal practices to support conditions such as high blood pressure, poor circulation, and general cardiovascular wellness.
Beyond heart health, onions are also widely recognised for their natural anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune-supporting properties. They have traditionally been used to help the body deal with infections, including fungal conditions such as athlete’s foot, as well as seasonal respiratory issues like colds, coughs, and congestion.
Onions are also valued in traditional use for their broad antimicrobial activity and have been used in various cultures to support the body during minor infections and general immune challenges.
For best nutritional and traditional benefit, onions are ideally eaten raw or lightly cooked to preserve their active compounds. They can also be infused into broths and soups, where their flavour and beneficial properties are easily absorbed.
As with all strong herbal foods, those taking blood-thinning medication or preparing for surgery should seek professional advice before consuming large medicinal quantities.
Otherwise, these are a wonderfully versatile, nourishing, and resilient food plant—something you can truly enjoy freely and often in everyday cooking.
