Allium × proliferum
Common names: Tree Onion, Topsetting Onion, Walking Onion, Winter Onion, Perennial Onion, Medusa Onion, Snake Onion
Quantity Pricing
Red Egyptian Walking Onion Topsets
🧅 PRE-ORDER SEASON — Order now, ships in September
Red Egyptian Walking Onion topsets are available in hand-counted quantities. Bulbs typically range from approximately ¼ inch to ¾ inch in diameter, reflecting the natural variation produced within a mature plant. Each order is packed in a breathable paper sack to protect the bulbs during transit while preventing excess moisture.
Extra topsets are routinely included. Visit our topset guide for more information on topset size, color, development, and variation.
Shipping is capped at $10.50 for orders up to 200 topsets and is sent via USPS Priority Small Flat Rate Box for reliable delivery. Larger quantities ship in appropriately sized boxes as needed.
See the shipping information page for full details.
Red Egyptian Walking Onion topsets form at the tips of mature stalks as the plant’s natural means of propagation. Their papery skins deepen from green to copper and muted reddish tones as they mature, signaling readiness for harvest.
Our topsets are organically grown and harvested by hand at maturity, then cured and counted individually before packaging. Dry outer layers are normal and indicate proper curing, helping protect the topsets from moisture loss while guarding against mold and bacteria during storage and transit.
Topsets vary naturally in shape — some round, others elongated or even flat — with colors ranging from green to reddish-purple, or shades of bronze. Many arrive with small sprouts or emerging roots, all signs of healthy, viable planting material.
Each topset contains the stored energy required to establish a vigorous new plant. Once planted, roots can develop quickly, followed by green starter leaves.
For more information about the topsets you will receive, see our topset guide.
Established bulbs have survived winter temperatures below –26°F. Leaves die back in cold weather, but the bulbs remain protected underground, allowing the plant to return reliably each spring.
The red Egyptian Walking Onion strain is dormant in the winter and does not maintain active foliage during cold months. This dormancy allows the bulbs to withstand harsh conditions without damage, making it an ideal choice for gardeners in colder regions.
For more information on cold hardiness, see the zones and weather page.
After planting your topsets, roots typically establish within 1–2 weeks, followed by the emergence of the first green starter leaves. As the season progresses into winter, the plant focuses on building underground bulbs while the above-ground foliage dies back. The following spring, new leaves emerge - the solar panels that feed the bulb throughout the growing season. A topset stalk is unlikely to grow this first season for the young topset bulb. After summer dormancy, autumn returns and the bulb will most likely divide. New leaves emerge once more to feed the bulbs. After the second winter, spring returns and the bulbs grow vigorously, producing the first stalks and topsets, marking the beginning of your perennial onion patch.
For more information on the growth cycle of Egyptian Walking Onions, see the life cycle page.
Red walking onions are known for their assertive, traditional onion character. The greens provide a strong scallion flavor, while the bulbils deliver concentrated onion intensity suitable for cooking, pickling, or fresh use for those who prefer a sharper profile.
Plant topsets about 2" deep with the pointed end up in full sun with well-drained soil. Walking onions tolerate a wide range of conditions but benefit from consistent moisture during active growth.
See our planting guide for detailed instructions.
Egyptian Walking Onions will walk slowly through the garden on their own. Their topsets can take root where they fall if conditions are favorable, and grow into new plants and eventually form dense clumps. To control their spread, you can manage the topsets by harvesting them before they root. Lifting and dividing established clumps every few years can also help maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding. Bulbs can be divided in early spring or late fall when the plant is dormant, allowing you to expand your patch or share with friends.
Visit our Taming Your Topsets page for more information on maintaining your Egyptian Walking Onion patch.
Walking onions have long been maintained as practical perennial food crops because they reproduce without seed and return reliably each season. Their persistence made them especially valuable in regions where annual onion crops were less dependable.
The Red Egyptian Walking Onion serves as both a dependable food plant and a distinctive structural element in the garden. Mature stalks rise above the foliage and form snake-like branches that develop tiered clusters of topsets. Some clusters produce twisting leaf growth reminiscent of “Medusa heads,” creating strong visual interest throughout the growing season.
In addition to bulbils, plants may produce flowers that attract pollinators and contribute to overall garden activity. The varied forms — upright leaves, arching and looping stalks, and colorful topsets — give this onion an ornamental presence that fits comfortably in both edible plantings and mixed perennial borders.
Once established, it functions as a permanent feature: productive, self-renewing, visually dynamic, and highly tolerant of cold climates. The incredible, edible, everlasting, cold-hardy, ornamental…ONION THAT WALKS!