Allium: Show-Stopping Globes for the Early Summer Garden

Allium: Show-Stopping Globes for the Early Summer Garden

Don't let the common name "Flowering Onion" deter you—this genus offers some of the most elegant, sculptural blossoms in the plant world. Most Alliums bear statuesque, globe-shaped flower heads on long, straight stems, providing unique texture and form useful in any garden design. Blooms are interesting before opening, glorious at peak, and attractive even after fading. Flower heads range from huge (Allium 'Globemaster' with 8–10″ heads) to tiny, in colors from true blue, dark purple, pink, and yellow to white. They're lovely in the garden and in a vase.

Deer and Rodent Resistant

Like Daffodils, Alliums are deer- and rodent-resistant thanks to a faint oniony scent (only noticeable when leaves are cut or bruised). Many flowers have a sweet fragrance. Hundreds of species exist; we've curated a reasonable selection. They're reliable perennials with good drainage and plenty of sun.

Using Alliums in the Garden

Alliums shine in early summer (some bloom in fall). They love sun and well-drained, even sandy, soil with sufficient nutrients. Tuck bulbs around clumps of summer-flowering perennials so expanding perennials hide the Alliums' withering foliage. Favorite nursery combinations:

• Allium 'Globemaster' among Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)
• Allium sphaerocephalon (Drumstick Allium) with Yarrow, Asiatic Lilies, or Phlox
• Allium cristophii (Star of Persia) with Salvia 'May Night,' Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle), or Roses

We offer 5 shorter Allium varieties (10–30″) as "A Big Mix of Little Alliums"—best along shrub borders or in front of late-blooming perennials.

What We Ship

Premium, top-quality bulbs in fall, at the correct planting time for your region.

Allium Care Summary

• Light/Watering: Full sun (6–8 hours); well-drained soil, dry side during summer dormancy.
• Planting: Shallow—just 1–2 times bulb diameter deep.
• Fertilizer/Soil/pH: Well-drained, fertile soil. Fertilize fall and spring with bulb fertilizer.
• Continuing Care: Remove spent flowers (except sterile varieties like 'Globemaster') to prevent self-sowing. Leaf tips brown before bloom—normal.
• Pests/Diseases: Few problems unless planted too shallowly or in wet soil.
• Companions: Behind heavy-foliage plants (Peonies, Iris). Good for bedding, mixed borders. Flower heads dry well.
• Dividing/Transplanting: Rarely needed; can be done when bulbs are dormant.