The leaves are slender hollow tubes, 15–60 cm long and 2–4 mm thick, waxy texture, with a groove along the side of the leaf facing the stem.

The inflorescence is a tight umbel surrounded by a membranous bract in bud which withers when the flowers open.

The fruit is a capsule but the seeds seldom set and propagation usually takes place when the bulbils are knocked off and grow into new plants.

[citation needed] It imparts a garlic-like flavour and odour on dairy and beef products when grazed by livestock.

It is considered a pestilential invasive weed in the US, as grain products may become tainted with a garlic odour or flavour in the presence of aerial bulblets at the time of harvest.