THE ATYPICAL ALLIUM

By Lisa Derx

Whenever alliums are blooming in my garden, my neighbors comment on how I always seem to have the quirkiest plants! Some have taken to calling alliums a “Dr. Seuss” plant as it looks so different from the other spring-blooming flowers such as peonies, tulips, and anemones.

Alliums deserve these compliments. They come in a variety of heights and colors, and many have blooms that are truly spectacular in size. Additionally, they are generally a “plant it and forget it” flower, requiring little but admiration when they bloom.

Carl Linnaeus is the 18^th Century Swedish Botanist who is credited with the formal system of naming organisms, and it is he who first wrote about the allium. Allium is Latin for garlic, although they are commonly called ornamental onions. It is true that the bulbs and sometimes the flowers have a fragrance similar to onions. According to the North Carolina Extension Service, there are approximately 700 species, at least a dozen of which are food crops such as chives and shallots. Many more, however, are used as ornamental plants.

Alliums grow from a bulb. Plant them in fall in the mid-Atlantic area to a depth of twice the height of the bulb, pointy side up. They prefer well-draining soil with a neutral pH and full sun, although a few varieties will bloom in partial shade. Cover with dirt, leaves or compost, and water in well. They are remarkably resistant to deer, voles, rabbits, and other critters, so you can plant them without fear that the flowers will disappear. They are remarkably disease-resistant as well.

After they finish blooming, cut the stalk at ground level. The dried flower head lasts for several years, and it makes an interesting addition to dried arrangements. I use them in winter arrangements with evergreens and pinecones to add airiness to holiday designs.

Many alliums will reliably return year after year, but some will have smaller flowers. I have noticed that some will simply die off after two or three years, while others have been in the ground blooming annually for 10 or more years. Alliums prefer a summer on the dry side, so I suspect heavy rains may have rotted bulbs when they don’t show up the following year.

When deciding which of the many beautiful varieties to plant in your garden, consider what you want. Are you seeking tall flowers that draw the eye up? Look at Allium Globemaster, which grows 36” tall and has perfectly round purple blooms of 10.” Or Allium Summer Drummer – tallest of all the alliums – which grew to an impressive four feet in my garden, topped by purple and white spheres.

If you want a very large blossom, plant Allium Schubertii, also known as the Tumbleweed Onion. It has delicate mauve umbels that are 12” wide on 16” stems — a true showstopper in the garden.

Looking for lots of smaller flowers? Plant Allium Sphaerocephalon en masse for effect. These charming purple globes sway prettily in the breeze on strong stems that reach two to three feet tall. Bees and other pollinators love these in my garden. They are also one of the less-expensive varieties if you are gardening on a budget, and they have returned faithfully for 10 years.

If you want yellow flowers smaller than daffodils, plant Allium moly Jeannine. They seldom reach taller than a foot tall, but each stem has tiny bright yellow blooms that peek prettily out from between tulips or add light in front of dark shrubs.

Seeking true blue flowers? Plant Allium Azureum, also known as The Blue of the Heavens for their blue blooms, similar in color to Bachelor’s Buttons. They can grow two feet tall, but mine seldom go above 16” or so. They have pretty blue flowers on slender stems. Remember where you plant these, as they are easy to mistake for grass when they first break ground.

Where to purchase allium bulbs? Look now at big box stores such as Costco and Lowes. Online retailers such as John Scheepers, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, and Holland Bulb Farms all offer a wide variety of choices. Give these a try and you, too, will have your neighbors wide-eyed with awe.

Do you have a favorite allium? Tell me about it at [email protected].

Lisa Derx is Membership Chair for the National Capital Dahlia Society, President of Chesapeake Flower Exchange, Local Flowers Liaison for the Independent Floral Designers Association, and a member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flowers and the Maryland Cut Flower Growers Association. Her home is in Dayton, Maryland, where she grows flowers with her husband Dan and cat Sebastian.