# How to Propagate Egyptian Walking Onions From Topsets and Bulbils

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/how-to-propagate-egyptian-walking-onions-from-topsets-and-bulbils/
- Published: 2026-10-24T03:05:28-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

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## Leaves

Egyptian Walking Onions (Allium x proliferum) propagate themselves via bulbils at
their top stems, commonly referred to as bulbils or walking onions. Also referred
to as tree onions, Welsh onions and walking onions, these perennial plants thrive
across all USDA zones – taking on different names depending on where you grow them–
seemingly “walking” throughout garden beds while propagating themselves along their
journey. They’re easy to grow from seeds or single plants alike and tolerate frost
and snow well!

When onion stalks become top-heavy, their top heavy stalks bend over and touch the
ground where their bulbils rest – creating new plants which grow at an astonishing
rate, with one plant “walking” 24 inches yearly to form new bulbs and produce six
new onions each year! Due to this incredible process of self-replication, this fascinating
vegetable makes an excellent addition for small gardens, containers on patios or
balconies, or for gardeners looking to expand their patch with minimal effort.

Leaves, bulbs and bulbils of this hardy vegetable can be used as an excellent replacement
for scallions or green onions in salads and soups. Pickled pickles provide milder
taste and texture alternatives while chopped pieces can also be added to omelets,
stews casseroles and baked potatoes for delicious breakfast or lunch dishes. Its
unique growth habit and gorgeous foliage also make this onion an attractive feature
in flower gardens and garden beds.

## Roots

Egyptian Walking Onions (Allium x proliferum) are an intriguing and low-maintenance
vegetable to grow, which are fun and entertaining to tend. As their name implies,
these perennial onions “walk” by producing clusters of bulblets at their top stalks
that eventually touch down on soil and form roots to establish new plants – making
this perennial variety ideal for any garden despite limited space available.

At its “candlestick” stage, an Egyptian Walking Onion plant features a tall central
stalk topped by clusters of bulblets resembling long green taper candles. Each bulblet
is enclosed within a thin papery sack which eventually tears open to reveal mini
green onion “snakes.” These “snakes” can then be eaten, used as garnish for dishes
or replanted as new Egyptian Walking Onions in the ground.

If you plan to replant walking onions, the optimal time is in autumn. This allows
them to produce additional bulblets for next spring’s planting and allows other 
deep-rooting veggies like potatoes, tomatoes and peppers time to establish themselves
in their new homes. When possible, avoid planting walking onions near crops with
high concentrations of juglone-tolerant crops like beans peas and cucumbers which
attract natural pests of onions that could attract diseases that damage them directly.

Walking onions thrive in loose, fertile soil that drains well, with plenty of sunshine
but can tolerate partial shade if necessary. To achieve healthy growth and ensure
good nutrition for these perennial plants, adding organic matter and amending with
balanced fertilizers are ideal, while mulching with straw or leaves helps retain
moisture and suppress weeds at once.

## Fruit

Egyptian walking onions (Allium fimbriata) are cool-weather perennials with an interesting
growth habit that has earned them their common moniker: walking onions. Easy to 
grow, hardy enough for various conditions and low in maintenance requirements make
these perennial plants ideal for gardeners who seek perennial crops with year-after-
year returns.

Egyptian walking onions differ from most varieties in that they don’t produce seeds;
rather they reproduce via bulblets instead. Each plant produces clusters of small
bulbs shaped like green onions wrapped with papery skin on top of stems; as these
mature, their stalks bend toward the ground while their bulblets touch each other
and root themselves, producing new onions plants – giving these unique plants their
distinctive appearance and earning them their unique moniker of “walking onions.”

Egyptian onion plants begin their lives producing modest-sized bulbs. But as they
approach maturity, their growth transitions into “candlestick” growth; wherein a
tall central stalk forms and top-set bulbs become heavier, its stalks bend and the
bulbs drop to the ground where each will form new onion plants.

Walking onions should ideally be planted during fall planting season; however, spring
planting can also be viable depending on soil conditions. When selecting and planting
walking onion sets or bulblets be sure they have healthy bulbs with pointed ends
facing upward. Use well-draining soil with plenty of sunlight exposure for best 
results.

## Seeds

Every scape of an Egyptian Walking Onion plant produces tiny bulbs called “topsets.”
These topsets act like mini Egyptian Walking Onions; when planted they produce new
Egyptian Walking Onions plants.

If topsets are left to mature on their stalk, they will fall and root themselves
wherever they land, much like chive seeds do. This creates the “walking onion,” 
an extremely low maintenance perennial that spreads itself with little work required
from gardeners – it even thrives well in USDA Zones 3-10! These unique onions add
flavorful spice to many different dishes while standing out from other onions thanks
to its distinctive growth pattern which appears like they are “walking across” your
garden!

Topsets may become dry and papery during storage, leading some people to assume 
that they are no longer viable. But this is just part of their natural maturation
process–similar to how tulips, daffodils and grape hyacinths develop bulblets over
time.

Fall planting season brings our box full of miniature topsets – each cluster containing
10-20 tiny white topsets – ready for planting. Simply break apart each cluster and
plant each individual topset roughly 1-2″ below the soil surface – which will grow
into full-sized Egyptian Walking Onions that you can harvest and replant later!

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