Alphabetical Plant Listing

Small Allium Species for the Rock Garden

Ornamental Onions, Spring-Flowering Bulbs


Alliums are plants of exquisite beauty that deserve a place in perennial gardens. Easy to grow and undemanding, these very ornamental bulbs distinguish themselves by their great diversity in color, inflorescence, flowering height, and bloom times. Many species bloom in early summer - just after the spring-flowering period and just before the exuberant full bloom of summer.

  • While all Allium species can be used in the border, certain small species are just perfect for the rock garden where they create lovely accents.
  • There is a wide range of colors to choose from, including pink, lavender, yellow, purple, or white. Their flowers offer a nice array of shapes, from tight balls to graceful pendants of drooping bells.
  • They are easily grown in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Although they like a soil rich in organic matter, these small alliums are planted more shallowly than most bulbs. Therefore, digging in rocky soil is not a problem.
  • Alliums attract bees and butterflies but are relatively resistant to deer, chipmunks, and rabbits.
  • Alliums are virtually pest and disease free! There are no serious diseases or insect pests that bother them.

Guide Information

Hardiness 4 - 10
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Allium
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden
Compare All Allium Great Plant Combination Ideas with Allium Guides with Allium

lupigisella / 123RF Stock Photo

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 4 - 10
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Allium
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden
Compare All Allium Great Plant Combination Ideas with Allium Guides with Allium

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.