Is an Onion a Shrub?
No, an onion is not a shrub.
An onion is a bulb, a type of vegetable. The key difference lies in the stem. Shrubs have woody stems, while onions have non-woody stems. Although onions are used as herbs for their flavor and aroma in cooking and medicine, their primary culinary use and nutritional value classify them as a vegetable. Source: Quora - Is Onion a herb or shrub?
- Shrubs: Characterized by multiple woody stems branching from the base.
- Onions: Possess a non-woody, fleshy bulb as their primary structure.
The provided links offer various gardening tips related to onion planting and growth but do not contradict this fundamental botanical distinction. For example, Dixondale Farms and other sources detail planting techniques, but these details do not change the fact that an onion's structure is not that of a shrub.
The article on the "Glass Onion Shrub" (Edible Michiana) is a recipe using shallots and should not be confused with the botanical classification of an onion plant.
