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Allium senescens (German Garlic)

German Garlic, Mountain Garlic, Ornamental Onion

AGM Award
Allium senescens, Ornamental Onion, German Garlic, Mountain Garlic, Pink Flowers, Lavender Flowers

Allium senescens (German Garlic) is a bulbous herbaceous perennial that forms a tuft of twisted, grassy-looking, green leaves and produces up to 30 fragrant round balls of soft pink-lilac flowers atop upright stems in mid to late summer. Lasting for several weeks, they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Suitable for rock gardens, atop retaining walls, these charming blossoms look equally terrific in perennial borders.

  • Recipient of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Grows up to 6-12 in. tall and wide (30-60 cm).
  • Thrives in fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun, but appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. This Allium is drought tolerant.
  • Lovely in beds and borders, city gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and containers. To achieve an impressive visual effect, plant in clusters.
  • Known for attracting bees, butterflies, ​moths, and other pollinators, but deer ignore it.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for slugs and snails, onion white rot, and downy mildew.
  • Remove spent flowers to prevent the appearance of volunteer seedlings.
  • Propagate by seed or by division during spring or autumn.
  • Allium senescens is native to Europe, and northern Asia.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 10
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Amaryllidaceae
Genus Allium
Common names Ornamental Onion
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spread 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spacing 9" - 12"
(23cm - 30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, City and Courtyard
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Allium cepa Aggregatum Group (Shallot)
Allium cepa (Onion)
Allium sativum (Garlic)
Allium ‘Pinball Wizard’ (Ornamental Onion)
Allium ‘Purple Rain’ (Ornamental Onion)
Allium amethystinum ‘Red Mohican’ (Ornamental Onion)

Recommended Companion Plants

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Emily Mckenzie’
Hemerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’ (Reblooming Daylily)
Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass)
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)

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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.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 10
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Amaryllidaceae
Genus Allium
Common names Ornamental Onion
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spread 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spacing 9" - 12"
(23cm - 30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Allium
Guides with
Allium
Not sure which Allium to pick?
Compare Now

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