Scallion vs Green Onion vs Spring Onion: What’s the Difference?
By Ada Jones · Updated October 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: “scallion,” “green onion,” and “spring onion” are used almost interchangeably in the US for a young onion harvested before it bulbs, with straight, non-bulbing stalks. “Spring onion” technically refers more precisely to a young onion that has started to form a small bulb. The naming varies more by region and recipe tradition than by any strict botanical rule, which is why the terms get used inconsistently even in cookbooks.
The Naming Breakdown
| Term | What It Usually Means | Where It’s Common |
|---|---|---|
| Scallion | A true scallion variety, or any young onion with a straight stalk and no bulb | US recipes, especially Asian-influenced cooking |
| Green onion | Any onion variety harvested young, before bulbing, used interchangeably with scallion in most US kitchens | Most common everyday US term |
| Spring onion | A young onion that has begun forming a small, often slightly swollen bulb, with a stronger flavor than a scallion | UK and Commonwealth English, and more precise culinary use in the US |
| Welsh onion | A distinct non-bulbing onion species often grown specifically for continual scallion-style harvest | Grown worldwide but more niche; sometimes sold as “bunching onion” |
Does It Matter Which One You Grow?
For home growing, the practical difference is smaller than the naming confusion suggests. Any standard bulbing onion variety can be harvested young as a “green onion,” or you can grow a dedicated bunching/Welsh variety that never bulbs and can be cut repeatedly from the same plant. If you want continuous harvests from the same plants all season, a bunching variety is the better choice; if you’re just thinning out part of a bulb-onion planting early, you’ll get a very similar result to a store-bought scallion.
FAQ
Is a scallion the same thing as a baby onion?
Not quite — a “baby onion” usually refers to any bulbing variety harvested early with a small bulb already forming, whereas a true scallion/bunching onion is bred to not bulb at all.
Can I regrow store-bought green onions?
Yes — see our guide to regrowing green onions in water for the full method.
Final Thoughts
Don’t get stuck on the terminology — recipes and seed packets use these names loosely. Ready to grow your own? See our full green onion growing guide.
How This Guide Was Checked
Based on culinary reference sources and regional English usage conventions for allium naming. Still unsure which to grow? Contact us.
Related Onion-Growing Guides
- How to Grow Green Onions (Scallions and Spring Onions)
- How to Regrow Green Onions in a Glass of Water
See the full How to Grow Onions guide for the complete seed-to-harvest walkthrough.