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A Beginner’s Guide To Alliums

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

I am excited to share that The National Garden Bureau has chosen the allium as the bulb of the year!  They pick one annual, one perennial, one bulb crop and one edible to be celebrated and featured annually.  The selection is based upon versatility, adaptability, growing ability and popularity.  The allium is an easy-to-grow ornamental bulb that adds a bit of whimsy to every garden.  In honor of the special festivities surrounding this chosen flower, I have an exciting announcement.  I’ve teamed up with NGB and Longfield Gardens along with some other talented gardeners for a fabulous giveaway!  Continue reading this post to learn how to enter to win a $50 gift card to help beautify your very own garden!A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

My Story

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.comEver since I was a little girl, I have shared a fascination for alliums with my father.  He isn't big on gardening and can't tell the difference between pansies and petunias, but there is something about this flower that he loves.  We've always shared that feeling that there is just a magical factor about their brilliant blooms.  Each year, I strive to plant more allium bulbs to wow my dad.  I love the look of happiness and the sweet smile I see appear on his face when he gets to enjoy the alliums blooming.  That same smile appears on my face too!  What amazes me is how flowers you plant can continue to bloom year after year bringing back the wonderful memories time and time again.  It's truly something money can't buy.

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Atropurpureum & Nigrum alliums

About Alliums

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Purple Sensation

Perhaps you have edible crops in your own backyard. If so, this flower may look very similar to something you already grow!  Allium is actually the Latin word for garlic. The ornamental allium is a genus of flowering plant in the same family as edible onions, garlic and chives.  Many people are familiar with the pastel purple flowers these bulbs produce.  Alliums also come in white, yellow, blue and pink.  Each variety can vary in height anywhere from 12 to 36" tall.  These Dr. Seuss style bulbs are extremely hardy and deer resistant. While a plethora of garden critters may feast upon your coveted tulip and daffodils, these bulbs will be left alone.  The scent that these ornamental onions give off isn't appealing to animals.  They don’t have trouble with disease and aren’t bothered by common garden pests.  These are like gardening gold to the pollinators!  Butterflies, bees and beneficial garden insects are attracted to these ethereal blooms.  If you've ever dreamt of growing a plant that looks just like flowering fireworks, this is the plant for you!  Most varieties can be grown in zones 3-9 depending on what species you select.  This fascinating flower begins blooming in late spring to early summer.  There are also different types of alliums that can flower from late summer to fall.  With a little research, you could have different varieties of alliums blooming all season long!

 

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Globemaster alliums

More About Alliums

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

His Excellency alliums

Alliums make wonderful cut flowers.  They have an undeniable charm, and those balloon like blooms are a great conversation piece.  Learn how to make a beautiful bouquet with them in this helpful post The Starring Ingredient of a Stunning Bouquet by Slow Flowers with Debra Prinzing.  In her post, she shares a step-by-step guide on how to take fresh-from-the-field flowers and put them into a jaw dropping arrangement.

Nick McCullough of Thinking Outside the Boxwood shares an allium garden design for bountiful blooms.  He not only teaches you how to implement the design, but also adds tips for planting and maintenance.  You will instantly fall in love with this garden plan.  With these easy instructions, your garden will be enchanting in no time!

This stunning flower truly has magnetism about it.  Jason Kay of Garden In A City writes about Lurie Garden, a public garden, and how they incorporate alliums in their playful designs.  He shares photographs filled with inspiration that you can incorporate in your very own garden.

Robin Horton of Urban Gardens invites us to read about the history of alliums and shares some helpful facts.  She also mentions some unique allium literature, illustrations and guides.  You can also learn how alliums are incorporated in cityscapes.  Come with her and visually tour public gardens like The Getty Center Gardens!

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Drumstick alliums

My Favorite Varieties

There are over 700 different types of alliums to choose. With such a wide selection, here is a condensed version of my top 5 varieties.  Each variety is available for purchase at Longfield-Gardens.com

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.comPurple Sensation: This is one of the most easily recognizable allium varieties.
-A rich violet color with sparkles of blue and pink
-It is affordable with long-lasting blooms
-They boast round, 4 to 5" globes with 24 to 30" stems
-Does best in sun
-Blooms in late spring
-Zones 3-8

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.comGraceful: This allium has clusters of small, white flowers with lavender accents.  
-Has a lovely, soft fragrance
-Makes a wonderful cut and dried flower  
-Grows to be 10 to 12" tall
-Does best in partial sun/shade  
-Blooms late spring to early summer
-Zones 4-8

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.comGladiator: This variety is sure to amaze with it's large 6" diameter flower heads.
-Nicknamed "the giant" 

-Beautiful blue-violet tone
-Prefers full sun
-Grows to be 32-36" tall
-Blooms late spring
-Zones 3-8

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.comChristophii: This flower has a dazzling display of spiky little florets. 
-Also known as Star of Persia 
-Violet-pink color with a dusting of silver shimmer
-Large 8-10" blooms & 18-24" high
-Does well in sun to partial shade
-Blooms late spring
-Zones 3-8

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.comDrumstick: This allium has egg-shaped blooms
-Great companion for ornamental grasses
-Maroon on top fading into green below
-Bloom slowly putting on a lengthy show for weeks
-20-24" Tall
-Plant in sun to partial shade
-Blooms in late spring
-Zones 3-8

How To Grow

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Beginning to bloom

Most alliums are planted during the fall right before the ground freezes.  Once you have chosen your variety, dig a hole 8" deep and make sure to loosen the soil around where you will place your bulb.  I like to give my bulbs a pre-drink and snack before the final watering.  Moisten the soil, add your fertilizer, then place the bulb in the hole.  If possible, add new soil over your bulb and gently pat down once bulb is completely covered.  Now you can give your bulb one more drink of water.  Don't forget to mark the spot you planted them so you won't forget next spring!  Try not to plant your bulbs in an area that stays soggy.  These bulbs prefer rich, well-drained soil.  Time to sit back and wait until next season's spectacular show!

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Summer Beauty alliums

Gift Card Giveaway

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Mount Everest alliums

I'm excited to share that as part of the year of the allium celebrations, one lucky reader will be winning a 50 dollar gift card to Longfield Gardens!  Enhance your garden with some new, top of the line bulbs!  They have an impressive selection of bulbs to choose from.  Don’t forget to pick out some amazing allium bulbs!

To Enter: All you have to do is comment on this blog post and you will automatically be entered.  It's that easy!  Do you have a favorite variety of allium?  Planning on planting some this year?  I'd love to hear all about it in the comment section below. 

Extra Entries: Want extra entries?  Follow and share on social media using the form below!  Who doesn't love more ways to win?

About: Contest will run from April 22nd to April 30th at midnight ET.  A winner will be picked at random from the comments below.  That winner will be announced Sunday, May 1st at 6 p.m  ET.  Must reside in the US to enter.  Wishing you all good luck!

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com
A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Garden filled with Purple Sensation

I hope you give growing alliums a try!  These flowers are so unique and transform any garden into a wonderland.  Do you have a flower or plant that is near and dear to your heart?  I'm already so excited to plant more of these in the fall.  I'm thinking of adding the Globemaster variety and surprising my dad next spring!  If I add a new kind of allium each year, my garden will put on one striking and spectacular show!  Join in on the fun and share your allium pictures on social media using the hashtags #yearoftheallium as well as #longfieldgardens.

For further reading, Longfield Gardens provides some helpful information on their website.  Please click the links below.

-Working With Alliums
-Allium Garden Design

Signature

A Beginners Guide To Alliums | angiethefreckledrose.com

Disclaimer: Longfield Gardens was kind enough to provide one of my readers with a $50 gift card.  They also provided me with some of the images used in this post.  I was not paid or compensated to write this article and all opinions are my own.  I only promote companies I enjoy and products I use in my own garden! 

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198 Comments

  • Reply
    DeniseinVA
    April 23, 2016 at 12:02 am

    Your photos are exquisite and I thank you very much for sharing with Today’s Flowers. I loved the photo of you with your father. How wonderful to have such a special connection with him through these beautiful flowers.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:44 am

      Thank you Denise! It’s wonderful to connect flowers & happy memories together. That way, those memories will never be lost as long as you surround yourself with nature 🙂

  • Reply
    Lara Ruiz
    April 22, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    I love iris and roses but am always looking for flowers I can grow here in the Hot, Low desert. So beautiful is the purple but I think my favorite is Christophii. Thank you Angie for introducing me to the new possibilities!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:42 am

      Glad you are thinking of planting some Lara! They do well in many different climates and conditions, that’s part of what makes them so fabulous 🙂 I agree, Christophii knows how to steal the show!

  • Reply
    Kim
    April 22, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    So pretty….I don’t have any of these in my garden, but after reading this, I want to add some. Love the Gladiator and the Drumstick varieties.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:39 am

      You definitely will be happy you did! I always get so excited when I start to see them come up year after year. They are for sure an attention grabber 🙂

  • Reply
    Ann Fantom
    April 22, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    These flowers are very pretty. They’ve got me in the mood to start planting in my flower beds.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:37 am

      Spring gardening fever tends to be very contagious Ann 🙂

  • Reply
    Katie
    April 22, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    These remind me of my mom’s garden; she used to have alliums! So pretty!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:36 am

      Lovely Katie! 🙂 They definitely never go out of style!

  • Reply
    Patricia Burgess
    April 22, 2016 at 6:30 pm

    I love the lavender alliums!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:34 am

      They are extraordinarily beautiful 🙂

  • Reply
    Christine | Vermilion Roots
    April 22, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    Oh Angie, They are so beautiful. We help take care of a flower garden but I’ve never seen alliums. Would love to add this to our collection. 🙂

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:32 am

      They never cease to wow me Christine! You won’t regret it if you plant some, I promise you that 🙂

  • Reply
    Tiffany Cardenas
    April 22, 2016 at 5:41 pm

    They’re all beautiful, but I love the Purple Sensations!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:29 am

      Oh, me too Tiffany! Hoping mine make an appearance again this year 🙂

  • Reply
    Erin @ The Impatient Gardener
    April 22, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    I’m an alliumaholic. They are so fabulous and I love them all, from the big monsters, to the small caerulums!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:28 am

      I’m right there with you Erin! An allium addiction is one of the few addictions that’s okay to have 😉 They all are just total stunners 🙂

  • Reply
    Modern Mia
    April 22, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    I’m attempting alliums for the 2nd year in a row. Last year’s batch didn’t survive. This year I have some given to me by a friend from down the street.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:26 am

      Wishing you luck with this batch Mia! What variety are you growing this year? Can’t wait to see pictures 🙂

  • Reply
    Margaret Smith
    April 22, 2016 at 4:32 pm

    I love Alliums in Purple. They are really beautiful flowers. I love flowers that come from bulbs. There’s something so special when you see them come up each year.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:23 am

      I agree Margaret! They are worth the wait, it almost builds up anticipation for me planting them in fall & waiting until spring 🙂

  • Reply
    Sandi
    April 22, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    Alliums are beautiful and so different from anything else in a garden! My daughter always loved them in our garden when she was young, and I like to think they helped her develop a love for flowers! You’ve given me inspiration to plant some in my garden right now!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:22 am

      I totally agree Sandi! Happy planting 🙂

  • Reply
    Dee Fedor
    April 22, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    I have tried to grow Alliums, but they disappeared. Would love to try again!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:20 am

      Oh no! Most varieties are very hardy, so I bet you will have success the second time around 🙂

  • Reply
    Liz
    April 22, 2016 at 11:10 am

    So pretty! I had no idea there were that many varieties of alliums. I have a major weakness for purple flowers, but the yellow and white are just gorgeous too!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:19 am

      Thanks Liz! So many beautiful varieties to pick from. I wish I could have one of each growing in my garden, maybe someday right? 😉

  • Reply
    Karen
    April 22, 2016 at 9:26 am

    Great photos. I like alliums too, but I didn’t know they were related to onions and chives.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      April 23, 2016 at 12:18 am

      Thank you Karen! They are such a unique flower. Yes, so cool! I always think chives look like alliums in a mini fairy garden 🙂

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