Onion weed
Nothoscordum borbonicum
A clumping weed with narrow leaves that grows from bulbs. Each plant produces many tiny bulblets, so pulling it out usually leaves some behind.
Also called: Onionweed, False garlic, Nothoscordum
- Type
- Bulb
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Usually seen
- Most visible when flowering.
Short answer
Onion weed is a clumping weed with narrow leaves that grows from bulbs. Pulling it by the leaves usually snaps them off and leaves the bulbs behind to regrow. Dig out the whole clump with a trowel, including every tiny bulblet, bag it for the bin rather than composting it, and expect to repeat the job.
Overview
Onion weed is persistent because of what’s under the ground. Each bulb is surrounded by tiny bulblets, and when you pull the leaves the bulblets stay behind and grow into new plants.
Digging out whole clumps carefully, sieving soil in small areas and bagging the bulbs works in gardens and lawn edges. In lawns, a product whose label lists onion weed and your grass type can help, usually with repeat treatments.
How to identify onion weed
- Leaves
- Narrow, strap-like leaves growing from a bulb.
- Flowers and seeds
- Clusters of small white flowers on upright stems.
- Growth
- Clumps from a bulb surrounded by many small bulblets.
- When you see it
- Most visible when flowering.
Look-alikes
- Onion grass (Romulea rosea): A different bulb weed with thin, wiry leaves and pink-purple flowers, sometimes also called onion weed.
What favours it
- Garden beds and lawn edges where bulbs get spread by digging
Control without chemicals first
Dig out the whole clump with a trowel, including every small bulblet. Pulling by the leaves usually snaps them off and leaves the bulbs.
In small areas, sieving the soil removes the tiny bulbs.
Bag bulbs and plant material for the bin rather than composting them.
Herbicide options
| Timing | Active ingredient | What it does | Grass types |
|---|---|---|---|
| post emergent | See product label | Herbicides are registered for onion weed, but bulb weeds usually need repeat treatment. Check the label lists onion weed and your grass type. | Check the label |
Popular questions about onion weed
Guides
Common questions
Why does onion weed keep coming back after I pull it?
Each plant is surrounded by small bulblets that break off easily. Any left in the soil grow into new plants.
Didn't answer your question?
Ask LawnMan. We check existing answers first, and if nothing fits, your question goes on our list to answer.
Who wrote this, and what it's based on
This page hasn't been reviewed by our technical reviewer yet [CONFIRM: reviewer]. Until it is, it isn't listed in search engines. How we write and review
Sources
- Managing garden weeds: bulbs, tubers and corms (factsheet), NSW Department of Primary IndustriesOnion weed produces many small bulblets; hand removal, sieving soil, bagging bulbs. Accessed 4 October 2026.
- Turf weed, pest and disease identification guide (poster), Bayer Environmental Science, hosted by Turf AustraliaOnion weed (Nothoscordum): erect plant up to 30 cm, reproducing from seed or bulb. Accessed 3 October 2026.