Alliums are one of my all-time favourite plants. They may be related to the onion family but these fantastic bulbous plants are real showstoppers. Guaranteed to make you smile - rather than cry like their common cousins!
So what's so great about alliums? they are just divine.
design - they are the garden designers no1 friend - great with both architectural and cottage schemes.
impact - the spectacular round heads with delicate flowers suspended in a perfect sphere create a real wow factor
variety - from compact drumsticks to showy plate sized spheres alliums come in all colours and sizes including yellow, purple, blue and white
intricate - each allium head draws you in to marvel at its detailed composition with tiny flowers held aloft on slender stems in a perfect sphere
nature loving - the butterflies and bees love them
elegant - with graceful long perfectly straight stems holding striking heads they give balance and height to borders and containers
Alliums are easy to grow - they just like a sunny spot and they'll return happily every year. With so many different types they flower from April to August in my garden.
My favourites include:
Allium cristophii: this was the first allium I bought (because of the name it shares with my husband) It has a large metallic purple spherical head that looks great in flower or dried.
A. schubertii: another large allium with a head that looks like a burst of fireworks.
A. sphaerocephalon: compact pinky drumsticks on long wiry stems that last for ages.
A. nigrum: dome shaped white flowers on a long tall stem
Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' - a tight deeper purple round head on a tall stem. For really tall and massive purple heads try Allium giganticum or globemaster.
Allium moly: a small allium with yellow flowers
Allium bulgaricum - an unusual drooping flowerhead in white with purple markings
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