VegetableOnion
Flagpole Onion
Flagpole Onion is a perennial bunching onion that grows taller and more substantial than typical green onions, reaching 14-24 inches with slender, dark blue-green leaves that command attention in both garden and kitchen. This heirloom variety of Allium fistulosum matures in 60-69 days and thrives across hardiness zones 2-9, making it remarkably cold-tolerant and suitable for gardeners in nearly every climate. Highly prized by Asian chefs for its size and flavor, it grows reliably in gardens, raised beds, and even greenhouses, offering gardeners an easy way to harvest substantial green onions without replanting each season.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Tolerates Moderate Fertility
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
Spacing
2
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Flagpole stands out as one of the largest varieties of green onions available, producing tall, elegant dark blue-green leaves that reach heights well above standard scallions. Its exceptional cold tolerance means it survives in zones as far north as zone 2, continuing to produce long after lighter varieties have faded. The perennial nature of this heirloom means you can harvest repeatedly from the same planting, and its open-pollinated genetics allow you to save seed and grow this variety indefinitely without purchasing new seed packets.
Common Uses
Flagpole Onion is harvested for its tall, edible green leaves and tender white base, used fresh in Asian stir-fries, soups, and noodle dishes where its size allows it to be cut into substantial pieces. The whole plant from root to leaf tip is edible, making it useful for garnishing, seasoning, and as a main vegetable in preparations that highlight its mild onion flavor. Because it's a perennial, it provides repeated harvests throughout the growing season and into fall, offering a long-season source of fresh green onions without the need for succession plantings.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings or divisions outdoors once they are established, spacing them 2 inches apart with 15 inches between rows. Transplanting can occur in spring after frost danger passes, or in late summer for fall and winter harvests.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring after the last frost date or in late summer for fall harvest. Sow thinly and cover lightly with soil; seeds germinate best in cool to moderate temperatures.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting outer leaves once plants reach usable size, typically 60-69 days after sowing, when the dark blue-green leaves are tender and the white base has developed. Harvest by cutting leaves at the base or pulling outer leaves away from the center, leaving the core intact so the plant continues producing. Regular harvesting encourages bushier growth and continued leaf production throughout the season. As a perennial, it will regrow after cutting, providing multiple harvests from the same planting.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Allium fistulosum
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Genus
Allium
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)CAN (N)
History & Origin
“Flagpole Onion carries the heritage of Allium fistulosum, a species with deep roots in Asian cuisine and agriculture. As an heirloom, open-pollinated variety preserved through generations of seed saving, it represents the collected knowledge of gardeners and chefs who recognized its superior size and cold hardiness compared to annual bunching onions. This cultivar has earned its place in seed collections and gardener's hands precisely because it proved itself reliable and worthwhile enough that people kept saving its seed year after year.”