What’s the difference between scallions and green onions?

Scallions and green onions are practically the same.  According to Wikipedia, “scallions” (also known as green onions, spring onions, salad onions, green shallots, onion sticks, long onions, baby onions, precious onions, yard onions, or syboes), are the edible plants of various Allium species, all of which are "onion-like", having hollow green leaves and lacking a fully developed root bulb.” 

You can substitute scallions for green onions when you see the need for scallions or green onions in a recipe. 

While scallions and green onions belong to the genus and species Allium fistulosum, a.k.a. the Japanese bunching onion or Welsh onion, there are some nuances between the two plants. 

1.  In terms of flavor, scallions provide a milder taste than green onions, which have a flavor similar to onions.

2.  Scallions are identified by the fact that the sides of the base are straight, whereas the green onion curves slightly, showing the beginnings of a bulb.

3. Scallions are immature green onions. Green onions are the maturating spring onions which have a distinct flavor and taste of the fully-grown onions. Green onions have a slightly rounder bulb shape.

Did you know?

In the mid-Atlantic coastal states and New England, most people are more likely to be called scallions; For the rest of the US, they are more likely to be called green onions.