Allium

Alliums may be in the onion family, but these top-notch garden plants are anything but utilitarian vegetable-garden residents. Among the most carefree bulbs you can grow, alliums bloom in a wide range of colors (including shades of yellow, white, pink, and purple), seasons, and sizes (from inch-wide heads to volleyball-sized bloom clusters).

Alliums offer whimsical structures and great textural contrasts unique to the late spring bulb garden. Clustered florets in a globe-shaped flower head are held aloft on a thick stem. In the species, loose bouquets of flowers sprout from clustered, hollow stems. The larger allium flower heads are fun focal points for dried arrangements. Plant alliums in any well-drained garden soil in full sun. The smaller types are especially well suited for growing in rock gardens. Plant a few larger hybrids in a pot for a flowering surprise in early summer.

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Bulb

Plant Height:

4 inches - 3 feet tall

Plant Width:

To 1 foot wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders, Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Dried Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

---

Allium aflatunense

Allium aflatunense features big, spiky flower heads packed with purple blossoms on thick stems in late spring. It grows 30 inches tall. Zones 4-8
view >

Allium oreophilum

Allium oreophilum is a tiny star for the rock garden. This petite onion features airy clusters of rosy flowers on 4-inch plants. Zones 4-7
view >

Allium triquetrum

Allium triquetrum bears clusters of drooping white bells that flourish in partial shade and will spread in moist soils. The flowers unfurl in late spring on 18-inch-tall stems. Zones 3-9
view >

Bear's garlic

(Allium ursinum) is noted for its 2-inch-wide shaggy white flower heads that appear on 18-inch-tall stems in summer. Zones 4-9
view >

Blue allium

(Allium caeruleum) delights with airy bunches of delphinium-blue flowers on 18-inch-tall stems in late spring. Zones 5-7
view >

Drumstick allium

(Allium sphaerocephalon) offers egg-shaped reddish-purple spheres in early summer on 2-foot-tall stems. Zones 5-9
view >

Globemaster giant allium

(Allium 'Globemaster') is a dramatic selection with huge, 10-inch violet flower heads on 3-foot-tall stems in late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9
view >

Golden garlic

(Allium moly) produces bunches of bright yellow, star-shaped blooms that spread their sunshine in rock gardens in late spring to early summer. It grows 12 inches tall. Zones 3-8
view >

Hair allium

(Allium 'Hair') is the most unique allium around. Rather than petals, this plant bears spidery green leaves atop its 18-inch-tall stems in late spring. Zones 4-8
view >

Ivory Queen allium

(Allium karativiense 'Ivory Queen') shows off 6-inch orbs of white flowers over wide, blue-green foliage. It grows 10 inches tall. Zones 5-8
view >

Millenium allium

(Allium 'Millenium') features 2-inch-wide lavender-rose flower spheres above the clumping green foliage for several weeks in late summer. It grows 12 inches tall. Zones 5-8
view >

Mount Everest allium

(Allium 'Mount Everest') bears huge white tennis-ball-sized flowers on 4-foot leafy stems. Zones 4-9
view >

Purple Sensation allium

(Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation') bears giant ultra-violet flower globes that radiate whimsy and cheer on 3-foot-tall stems in spring. Zones 4-8
view >

Star-of-Persia

(Allium cristophii) bears distinct silvery lavender flower globes to 12 inches in diameter open atop tall 2 1/2 foot stems in late spring. Zones 4-9
view >

Turkestan onion

(Allium karataviense) bears loosely clustered red and white flowers on 10-inch-tall stems in late spring. Zones 4-8
view >