I’m All In On Allium

Are you bored with the typical spring flowering bulbs? Had your fill of daffodils and tulips? Well, I may have a bulb for you! Allium is a member of the onion family and its flowers resemble those of the herb chives. Many of the blooms are shaped like a globe suspended on the end of a stem that ranges from 4 inches to 4 feet tall, but some will form loose clusters of flowers. The unique shape of the flower is eye-catching and they show well against a green backdrop like a hedge. The most common color of these bulbs is purple, but there are also white, yellow and pink varieties.

While allium may look exotic they are really treated like any other bulb. They are planted in the fall and do best in an average garden soil which is not too wet. They are at their finest in full sun but will appreciate some shade in hotter climates. They thrive in garden zones 4 through 8 and like daffodils they will naturalize and multiply on their own. As a matter of fact, they are considered to be the “most perennial” of bulbs, but in warmer climates, they may only last 2 to 3 years. If an established planting does not bloom as profusely as in years past you can dig them up like you would garlic and split the smaller bulbs that are attached to the main bulb. These smaller bulbs can be planted about 4 to 6 inches deep and 8 inches apart but it may take a few years for them to mature and flower.

The major drawback of this plant is that its foliage starts to deteriorate fairly quickly; even before the plant is in full bloom. This is one reason that planting them in the middle to rear of a flower bed is prudent as it is possible to hide the foliage behind or underneath other plants. Just like other spring-flowering bulbs you want to allow the leaves to yellow as this is part of the process the bulb goes through to store food for the next blooming cycle. The flowers should be removed after they finish blooming although some gardeners leave them on the plant for their visual interest. They make a stunning cut flower in spring arrangements and the flower can also be dried and used as part of an indoor decoration.

These showstoppers look best when planted in masses of 10 to 12 bulbs, but they can also be planted along with tulips and Dutch irises. Another nice feature of these bulbs is that unlike tulips they are not appetizing to deer. They are, however, attractive to birds and butterflies. Finally, although the stems are strong it is a good idea to plant them where they can get some protection from the wind and heavy rain as the larger flower heads can get damaged in heavy downpours and storms. If you want to try a new spring-flowering bulb this year maybe you should go “all in” on allium.

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  • faine1029@gmail.com Jun 14

    When will you have Allium Bulbs available?

    We will have them available for pre-order in August. We will have a couple of different varieties. Please email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and let us know if you are looking for any particular variety.  Thanks for your interest.

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