Allium — 29 species

Allium encompasses both culinary staples — garlic, onions, chives, ramsons — and ornamental bulbs, all sharing the genus's characteristic pungent chemistry. Virtually all species thrive in full sun with six or more hours of direct light and prefer sharply drained, loamy or sandy soil; they are notably drought-tolerant once established and dislike waterlogged conditions that rot the bulb. All Allium species are toxic to cats and dogs: organosulfur compounds damage red blood cells and can cause life-threatening hemolytic anemia, with cats particularly susceptible even to small quantities.