Answer

Spring onion is generally not considered Jain because it belongs to the onion family, and Jain dietary tradition avoids onion, garlic, and similar vegetables due to their spiritual and biological qualities — not only because of whether the edible part grows above or below the ground.

Explanation

In Jain food discipline, the issue is not only “root or non-root.” Foods are also avoided when they are considered:

• Anantkāy — associated with countless living beings in one body or cluster.
• Tāmasik / spiritually disturbing — increasing passion, heaviness, or carelessness in spiritual practice.
• Part of prohibited plant groups such as onion, garlic, leek, and related allium plants.

Spring onion may appear to be mostly green and above the ground, but it is still part of the onion plant. The white bulb/base and the growing structure are closely connected with the root-bulb system. Therefore, Jain tradition treats it like onion rather than like ordinary leafy greens.

Spiritual Understanding

Jain food rules are meant to reduce violence, attachment, passions, and carelessness. Onion-family foods are avoided because they are traditionally understood to disturb inner purity and spiritual restraint.

So the Jain view is not simply:

• “Above ground = allowed”
• “Below ground = not allowed”

Rather, the deeper principle is:

• Does this food involve greater harm?
• Does it belong to a category traditionally avoided by Jain āchār?
• Does it support purity, restraint, and awareness?

Takeaway

Spring onion is not Jain because it is still an onion-family plant and is treated under the same discipline as onion, even if much of it grows above the root.