Meet The Aristocratic Cousins Of The Lowly Onion

The alliums lend a note of aristocracy to any flower garden. The largest genera of the lily family, they possess great diversity. 

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Allium Albopilosum “Star of Persia”

For instance, there is Allium albopilosum, which I call the Star of Persia because it originated in that far land and is a loose, open ball of some 80 floral stars. 

The floral ball is 10” to 12” inches in diameter, with a stem from 2 ½’ to 3’ feet tall. 

The large basal and strap-shaped leaves soon dry and are carried away, but the stem and flower head remains dry as the seeds form, become rigid, and develop into a beautiful ornament. 

Allium Datum, Aflatunense, and Rosenbachianum

Another member of this distinguished family is A. datum. It is 6” inches in diameter on a 3-foot stem and is the only allium with glossy basal leaves. 

Quite similar, but with a head only 4” inches in diameter, is A. aflatunense, while A. rosenbachianum is more rugged and somewhat coarser. It stands 4’ feet high. 

Allium Giganteum

But the tallest of all is A. giganteum, which reaches 5′ feet and has been called Giant from the size of its cone-shaped bulb. The bulbs of its companions are also solid but smaller, more disc-like, and flattened on one side. 

None of the bulbs of these plants form bulblets, and they rarely divide. This means propagation is mostly from seeds, which take three to four years to produce mature plants. The bulb of A. giganteum sends forth its flower spike in July, but the others blossom in May. 

Allium Karataviense

Belonging to the same group is a unique individual known as A. karataviense. Fifty percent of its attractiveness is in the thick, broad, flat leaves lying on top of the ground. 

The floral ball is just above the foliage on a 15-inch stem, and the flowers are gray instead of purple and lavender.

All these floral balls are long-lived cut flowers. Their dried flower stems, and heads are superb for winter bouquets.

They are striking accent points in the perennial border, where no thought need be given to the support of their tall, sturdy stems. 

Allium Azureum

There also are smaller alliums in a variety of colors. For example, a. azureum has clear blue flowers. The stems are slender, 2’ feet high, and encased partway from the ground in onion-like foliage. 

It blooms in early June and makes a beautiful combination when planted behind yellow A. molly.

Allium Sphaerocephalon

Another is A. sphaerocephalon, royal purple, with 3-foot stems topped by a cone-shaped head. It blooms in July and has a great attraction for bees. The flowers are used in florist shops as well as in the home. 

Both of these alliums propagate from underground bulblets, and a few formed in the axils of the leaves. 

Allium Flavum and Allium Pulchellum

A. flavum and A. pulchellum appear in bomb-like burstings when they bloom. Their flower heads break forth in July from long, narrow bud sheaths which remain attached to the stem at one end and arch over into long streamers. 

But the bursting effect comes from the tiny, round flowers on long pedicles reaching out in all directions. 

For a striking color combination, try the two species together. The yellow flowers of A. flavum are borne on one, and half-foot stems. A. pulchellum is a light orchid and grows about 2’ feet tall. 

Allium Cowani and Allium Neapolitanum Grandiflorum

Two beautiful florists’ flowers developed from round, pea-sized bulbs are A. cowanii and A. neapolitanum grandiflorum. They have flat umbels of attractive white flowers in early and late May, respectively. 

The plants are alike, except that A. cowani is larger and more robust in all its parts. Both can be grown in a greenhouse or garden. 

Allium Moly

The Golden Garlic (A. moly) flowers in early June and is shade-tolerant. Plant it in drifts at the foot of delphiniums. Its flat umbels of yellow flowers are lifted about eight inches above the ground.

Allium Triquetrum and Allium Ursinum

Many of the alliums are easily grown in shaded areas where one would never expect bulbs to bloom. Among these plants, A. triquetrum and A. ursinum brighten the shadows with their white flowers. 

The former bears a cluster of drooping white bells on foot-high, three-sided stems. The latter lifts fluffy clusters of tiny stars above its foliage. 

Allium Narcissiflorum

For the rock garden, the A. narcissiflorum (also known as A. pedemontanum), with its deep pink bells on eight-inch stalks, has been described by an enthusiast as “the glory of its race, the choicest of all alliums for the rock garden.” 

But one of the most intense blues found in the garden is A. cyaneum, A. ostrowskianum offers choice lavender-pink clusters.

Noble Alliums

No gardener can afford not to meet these noble alliums. Most of them are easy to grow and are quite hardy throughout the United States and thrive in light, fertile, sandy loam, but will also prosper in any garden soil. 

They are all fall-planted, and most prefer sunny locations

44659 by Fred L. Delkin