Allium ‘Ostara’ (Ornamental Allium)

Allium ‘Ostara’ (Ornamental Allium) is a low-growing, bulbous perennial boasting large rounded clusters, 4-6 in. across (10-15 cm), densely packed with deep reddish purple, star-shaped flowers. Blooming in late spring and early summer, they are borne atop straight, sturdy stems just above the attractive foliage clump of broad, fleshy blue-green leaves. Rich in nectar, the flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. They make excellent cut flowers too. Allium ‘Ostara’ results from a cross between A. atropurpureum and A. karataviense. Easy to grow, carefree, deer and rabbit resistant, this Allium is a charming addition to flower borders and containers.

• Grows up to 12-16 in. tall (30-40 cm).
• Thrives in fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Add grit to clay soils to improve drainage. This Allium is drought tolerant.
• Lovely in beds and borders, cottage gardens, and containers. To achieve an impressive visual effect, plant in clusters.
• Known for attracting bees, butterflies, ​moths, and other pollinators, but deer and rabbits ignore it.
• Generally pest and disease free. Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, allium leaf miner, onion white rot, and onion downy mildew.
• Propagate by offsets to obtain plants the same as the mother bulb, which can be carefully detached by lifting the bulb after flowering has finished. Plants grown from saved seed will not come true to the parent.

Hundreds of Allium species exist, but only a few have made a name for themselves as garden plants. The ornamental onions distinguish themselves by their remarkable diversity in color, inflorescence, and flowering height. Many species bloom in early summer – just after the spring-flowering period and just before the exuberant full bloom of summer. Certain small species are just perfect for a rock garden, and several lend themselves to naturalizing. All species can be used in the border.