Allium atroviolaceum ist rather similar to the more frequent Allium sphaerocephalon. Allium atroviolaceum however has leaves of up to 12 mm width (Allium sphaerocephalon only up to 4 mm) and a long beak at the spathe, which ruptures at only one location and usually falls down soon. In Allium sphaerocephalon the spathe tears open at two locations, and the two parts often remain quite long hanging underneath the flower.