ornamental garlic (Allium),also called ball garlic, comes from the onion family and is one of the plants that provide weeks of stunning flowers in the bed with minimal effort - you simply plant the allium bulbs in the ground and they magically return spring after spring. The spherical flower heads are supported by long, strong stems and appear in many different shades of purple, white and blue. When planted in large groups, the flower balls look simply spectacular. Ornamental onions are also ideal as cut flowers for vases, both in fresh and dried flower arrangements.
Planting time: September – November
flowering time: May – June
Pruning: June-July
Which Allium variety to choose?
When choosing allium plants, think about your space in the garden or on the balcony. Also pay attention to the size of the plant, i.e. both the size of the flowers and the height of the plant. The flower heads can have a diameter of 3 to 25 cm and the height of the Allium species can also vary considerably.
Large, tall allium varieties such as 'Purple Rain' and 'Globemaster' are well suited for specimen plantings in the garden. Smaller varieties such as Allium christophii (40 – 60 cm) and Allium moly 'Jeannine' (35 cm) are ideal for keeping in containers. Drumsticks Alliums such as Allium sphaerocephalon do well in prairie gardens.
