Now In Bloom - Allium Galore

From chives to ornamental allium, the onion family is blooming. If you have the space, Star of Persia (Allium christophii) has basket-ball sized heads of starry lavender flowers hovering a foot above the ground on incongruously slim stems. I grow dozens of the taller, slimmer allium that can easily be squeezed in between shrubs and lilies; Deepest purple A. 'Sensation' and the slightly paler later blooming A. 'Globemaster' are in full bloom at the moment;  the effect is heavenly. White allium are less showy, more ethereal; I love the ghostly Allium 'Mount Everest' (below) flowering at Useless Bay Coffee Company along 2nd street in Langley. 

Whether white or purple blooming, these taller allium have long-lasting flower heads a little bigger than a baseball. They lend height and dimension to the garden even after the flowers fade; gardeners have been known to spray paint faded allium heads to continue the show into summer. Allium are dependably perennial, returning to bloom every May. The flowers seem to get a little smaller every year (maybe I need to fertilize more?) which is incentive to plant at least a dozen more every fall.

Plant fat, flowering onion bulbs in autumn in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. In early spring, they throw up strappy leaves, then in April a three foot tall stalk shoots up, soon to be topped off with flower balls. The leaves wither down unattractively - the only criticism I can think of - but you won't notice because your garden will be filled with these gorgeous, bee-attracting, flower globes.

Allium 'Sensation' in a rare bee-free moment

Allium 'Sensation' and 'Globemaster' blooming with coppery carex, Spirea 'Magic Carpet' and fragrant orange wallflowers (Erysimum 'Apricot Twist').

 

Allium 'Mount Everest' in the edible street-side garden at Useless Bay Coffee Company in Langley

 

Comments

[Jana Wennstrom]

Hello Valerie-
I am hoping to chat with you about the possibility of having you do a lecture at Tacoma Art Museum about your book Artists in Their Gardens. Please contact me if you are interested in discussing this possibility.
Thank you,
-Jana

[Rerto Jordans]

The blog article very surprised to me! Your writing is good. In this I learned a lot! Thank you!

[Grow Taller 4 Idiots Review]

Nice pics your work deserves to be appreciated I also Love Allium . Thanx for such a nice and beautiful pics and such and informative article.