Onion types and varieties - an overview
Onion species
The onion (Allium cepa) belongs to the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) and the genus Allium, which also includes garlic, leeks, chives and shallots. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, although it is often cultivated as an annual. There are many types of onion, such as the green onion, the spring onion and the shallot. They differ in taste, size and use.
Onion varieties
In the world of onions, you will find a wide range of varieties that differ in shape, color, taste and ripening time. In addition to the distinction between species, there is also a division into summer and winter onions, depending on the growing season. Below you will find an overview of onion types and a few examples of onion varieties:
Heirloom onion varieties
Particularly tasty and usually more resistant to diseases and pests:
- 'Cipolla di Tropea': Italian red & sweet variety, for salads and raw consumption
- 'Borettana': Italian yellow, mild & flat variety, can be used as a pearl onion
- 'Bedfordshire Champion': English, yellow & spicy onion, good for pickling
- 'Pear-shaped': Yellow variety from Franconia, elongated onions, quite sweet
Onions
The most frequently used variety. Characterized by their round shape and yellow/white skin:
- 'Stuttgarter Riesen': A yellow, round onion that stores well
- 'The Kelsae': From England, very mild & large onions
- 'Zittauer gelbe': Proven, roundish, firm, good keeping quality & robust
- 'Texas Early': A sweet, yellow onion, large in size, late maturing
Spring onions
Also known as spring onions. They are very tender, thinner and milder in taste than onions. They are sown in sets, as they can only be stored for a few weeks after harvesting:
- 'Blanca de Lisboa': Popular, widespread, mild variety with a white stem
- 'De Vaugirard': Snow-white, lush, flat-round bulbs, fast-growing
- 'Spring Performer': High-yielding, with green foliage and long, white stems
Red onions/purple onions
Sweeter and milder in taste than onions. Good for salads and raw dishes:
- 'Rossa di Toscana': traditional round variety from Italy, stores well
- 'Di Genova': early maturing, flat-round, large, very mild and tender, does not store well - 'Braunschweiger Dunkelblutrote': tried and tested variety with firm, flat-round onions, stores well
Shallots
Smaller, elongated onions are valued for their fine, sweetish flavor: - 'Longor': elongated, yellow-brown shallot with a fine flavor
- 'Biztro': tasty aroma; roundish, red-brown
- 'Hermine': white skin, roundish, very good aroma, can be stored for a long time
- 'Eschalote Grise': small, gray, spicy shallot with firm flesh
Winter onion/winter-hardy onion varieties
Particularly robust, frost-resistant. They are planted in autumn and harvested in spring: - 'Senshyu Yellow': Yellow variety
- 'Freddy': Extremely hardy, high-yielding
- 'Shakespeare': Robust variety
- 'Tonda Musona': Round, red, sweetish onion
