Plant Family / Alliums
Alliums
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.
Great Plant Combination Ideas with Alliums
Allium 'Ambassador' (Ornamental Onion)
Award-winner Allium 'Ambassador' is one of the tallest and most architectural onions with its large globe-shaped inflorescence, 8 in. across (20 cm), densely packed with hundreds of small, star-shaped purple flowers. Blooming for up to 5 weeks in late spring to early summer, this spectacular Allium enjoys one of the longest blooming season.
Allium 'Firmament' (Ornamental Onion)
Regarded by some as one of the very best, Allium 'Firmament' is a rather unusual Allium. Instead of having round flowerheads, it is only two-thirds of the sphere, about 4-5 in. wide (10-12 cm). It is packed with star-shaped, dark silvery purple flowers, each flower being comprised of dark purple florets adorned with shimmering silver anthers.
Allium 'Gladiator' (Ornamental Onion)
One of the tallest and most architectural onions with its inflorescence consisting of dozens of small star-shaped reddish-purple flowers forming a 6 inches across (15 cm) globe-shaped cluster
Allium 'Globemaster' (Ornamental Onion)
Boasting of of the biggest flower heads, multiple award-winner Allium 'Globemaster' is a striking ornamental onion with its inflorescence consisting of dozens of small star-shaped violet flowers forming a 10 inch wide (25 cm) globe-shaped cluster!
Allium 'His Excellency' (Ornamental Onion)
Tall and majestic, Allium 'His Excellency' is a most architectural flowering onion with its large globe-shaped inflorescence, 5 in. across (12 cm), densely packed with hundreds of small, star-shaped violet-blue flowers. Blooming for weeks in late spring to early summer, this spectacular Allium remains ornamental in the garden well into summer. Planted in groups, it makes a terrific focal point within the border.
Allium 'Millenium' (Ornamental Allium)
A butterfly magnet, Allium 'Millenium' is a bulbous perennial with profuse, large, rounded umbels, 2 in. across (5 cm), tightly packed with bright rosy purple flowers. Blooming in mid to late summer, the luminous flowers are borne on sturdy, upright stems just above the attractive foliage clump of onion-scented, grass-like, glossy deep green leaves, which remain attractive all season long. The flowers are both long lasting (up to 4 weeks) and excellent as cut flowers. This Allium is not bothered by heat and reseeding is much less a problem than in other alliums.
Allium 'Mont Blanc' (Ornamental Onion)
Tall and elegant! Allium 'Mont Blanc' is a splendid beauty with its 4 inch wide (10 cm) umbels of pure-white flowers atop sturdy, upright stems
Allium 'Mount Everest' (Ornamental Onion)
Large shimmering white flowers! Allium 'Mount Everest' is a splendid beauty with its 6 inch wide (15 cm) umbels of pure-white flowers atop sturdy, upright stems! Its basal, semi-erect strap-shaped grayish-green leaves are also quite ornamental.
Allium 'Round and Purple' (Ornamental Onion)
Long-lasting, large round lilac flower heads! Probably the biggest flower heads of all Alliums.
Allium 'Summer Beauty' (Ornamental Allium)
Allium 'Summer Beauty' is a bulbous perennial with charming, rounded umbels, 2 in. across (5 cm), packed with up to 30 soft lavender-pink, bell-shaped flowers. Blooming in mid- to late summer, the luminous flowers are borne on sturdy, upright stems above a foliage of onion-scented, strap-shaped leaves, which remains attractive all season long.
Allium amplectens 'Graceful Beauty' (Ornamental Onion)
Allium amplectens 'Graceful Beauty' (Ornamental Onion) is a hardy perennial bulb featuring globe-shaped flowerheads, up to 3 in. across (7 cm), packed with 10 to 50 starry white florets adorned with lavender stamens and purple anthers. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this particularly pretty Allium enjoys long-lasting blooms and remains ornamental in the garden well into summer.
Allium atropurpureum (Ornamental Onion)
Allium atropurpureum is a hardy perennial bulb with star-shaped, deep purple-red flowers packed into a half-globe umbel, 2 in. wide (5 cm). Each flower is comprised of deep merlot-purple florets adorned with blueberry-purple eyes, which creates a wonderful contrast of colors. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the flowers are borne on sturdy, upright stems above strap-shaped green leaves.
Allium caeruleum (Ornamental Onion)
Spectacular and refreshing! Prized for its true blue color, Allium caeruleum provides interesting ornamental value in the garden in late spring to early summer.
Allium cernuum (Lady's Leek)
Native to North America, Allium cernuum is a lovely summer flowering bulb with loose, nodding umbels of tiny bell-shaped, pink to lilac or even white flowers. Each erect stem produces up to 30 flowers!
Allium cristophii (Star of Persia)
Everlasting shimmering amethyst flowers! Allium cristophii (Star of Persia) is an elegant ornamental onion with star-shaped silvery purple flowers forming a 8 inch wide (20 cm) globe-shaped cluster atop narrow and hairy leaves.
Allium fistulosum (Bunching Onion)
Great for spicing up salads or edging borders! Bunching Onions (Allium fistulosum) are cultivated both for their culinary uses and their ornamental value.
Allium flavum (Yellow-Flowered Garlic)
Blooming in late spring to early summer, this charming Allium is fully hardy and thrives in dry soils. This beauty naturalizes easily and will come back year after year!
Allium giganteum (Ornamental Onion)
Dramatic border background plant! Perhaps the tallest of the ornamental onions, Allium giganteum is a striking and bold addition to the garden with its star-shaped, tiny lilac-purple flowers forming a 5-6 in. wide (12-15 cm) globe-shaped cluster.
Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' (Ornamental Onion)
A favorite of many gardeners, multiple award-winner Allium 'Purple Sensation' is a striking ornamental onion with its inflorescence consisting of dozens of small, star-shaped, rich violet-lilac flowers, forming perfectly round flowerheads, 3 in. wide (8 cm). They are borne atop sturdy stalks, which arise from a group of 6 to 8 handsome, blue-green, straplike leaves.
Allium karataviense 'Ivory Queen' (Turkestan Onion)
An unusual, ivory-white dwarf ornamental onion, Allium karataviense 'Ivory Queen' (Turkestan Onion) is quite attractive with its elegant globe-shaped clusters, 5 in. wide (12 cm), of starry white flowers nestled in a beautiful foliage consisting of wide and recurved, gray-green leaves, slightly red edged. A very ornamental ensemble!
Allium karataviense (Turkestan Onion)
Extremely decorative and shade tolerant! This allium is also one of the best for containers.
Allium moly (Lily Leek)
Would you have ever thought that Alliums could display clusters of golden yellow flowers? Allium moly ((Lily Leek) does, and it does it superbly and profusely!
Allium neapolitanum (Ornamental Onion)
Fragrant, sparkling flowers! Allium neapolitanum is a beautiful, profusely-flowering ornamental onion with sweetly-scented clusters of white, star-shaped flowers forming umbels atop narrow, green leaves.
Allium nigrum (Ornamental Onion)
Attractive flat-topped creamy flower heads! Despite its name, Allium nigrum is a white flowering onion, featuring creamy-white or pale lilac flat clusters of starry silvery florets with a green center.
