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An allium is a bit like a piece of topiary: neat, manicured and a total contrast to the informality of surrounding plants. The shape, colour and sparkling structure of these alluring flowers is their attraction. And, unlike so many of the ultimately desirable things in life, they are available, affordable and attainable.
I never really think of alliums as spring-flowering bulbs but that’s where you will find them on sale: alongside narcissi, tulips, crocus and all the spring favourites. However, unlike many bulbs that we treat as single season highlights, alliums are permanent garden plants that will multiply and improve during the years to come.
Alliums succeed on any well-drained soil in full sun; however I have seen them grown very successfully in semi-shade. Their worst attribute is their foliage, which starts to deteriorate as the flowers develop. This is easily hidden by planting them between low shrubs and perennials that hide the leaves, but enhance the flowers. Their spherical flowerheads will then bounce across a border filled with geraniums, nepeta, helichrysum, lavender and santolina, and everyone will wonder how they are suspended so magically in the air.
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Allium bulbs are planted in autumn. Plant them four times the depth of the bulb, and judge the distance between the bulbs according to the size of the flowers. They do not want to be overcrowded; plant too many bulbs into too small a space and the effect can be lost.
The principle allium colour is mauve, in shades from deepest purple to pale silvery lilac, however white and yellow species and cultivars exist. Flowerheads vary from the size of five pence pieces to footballs.
Allium ‘Globemaster’, ‘Gladiator’ and giganteum are all similar: large, densely packed flowerheads on bright green stems up to 90cm in height. Allium ‘Globemaster’ is the finest with exceptionally large and long-lasting flowerheads. These get larger as more florets open and prove irresistible to bees and pollinating insects. The bulbs are expensive, but think of them as long lived perennials rather than flowerbulbs, which we all, rather unreasonably, consider should be cheaper.
Perhaps the best garden Allium of all is Allium cristophii, also known as Allium albopilosum. It has large heads of starry, silvery-lilac flowers on strong stems up to 60cm in height. The flowers are long-lasting and develop into sensational seedheads that last well into winter and beyond. This is the perfect plant for the flower arranger, both for fresh and dried material.
Allium schubertii is even more striking, with short stems up to 40cm carrying extraordinary large heads of tiny flowers on long stalks. The effect resembles an extraordinary molecular model, or a stunning firework.
Allium sphaerocephalon is even later to bloom and enhances the summer border with its densely packed, purple flowerheads on tall, fine stems. Often referred to as the drumstick allium, the common name does little to convey the grace and lightness of the flower. Allium ‘Forelock’ is similar but with a more pronounced forelock topping each flower. The individual blooms resemble imaginative pieces of confectionery and like Allium sphaerocephalon they make interesting border additions and great cut flowers.
For those that like dainty flowers Allium atropurpureum is a lovely rich deep purple colour and has small flowerheads on fine stems. It is ideal to add interest at the front of the border, perhaps amongst the lime green frothy flowers of Alchemilla mollis.
Allium Fireworks is the name given to a mixture of graceful, small-flowered alliums: Allium carinatum, carinatum subsp. pulchellum f. album and flavum. Producing blooms of purple, white and lilac on stems reaching 40cm these are ideal to grow amongst grasses for a prairie effect.
Because of their rapidly fading foliage alliums are not ideal to grow in pots however Allium karataviense ‘Ivory queen’ is the exception. A dwarf plant the flower stems grow to only 20cm and carry fluffy white flowerheads above attractive broad blue-green leaves. This plant can get lost in the border but looks wonderful in a low glazed or terracotta pot alongside pots of hostas and heucheras.
Alliums are of course members of the onion family. They will seed freely on light sandy soils and the bulbs will gradually multiply as the years go by. They are generally pest free and are usually left untouched by deer and rabbits: another good reason to plant them; as if you needed any excuse!
