The Allium

Most gardeners are familiar with planting onions, garlic, chives and leeks.  Another member of this genetic family is the Allium.  Alliums, like all of the first group are grown from bulbs.  They range from the vibrant violet-blue balls on strong stems growing up to 50” tall to the smaller Bulgaricum with bell-shaped flowers in burgundy, green and white which grows to 30” tall and down to the Cameleon with flower clusters which change color as they develop and which grows to 12” tall. Last year most of the Reno County Extension Master Gardeners had been to the Demonstration Garden at Hutchinson Community College, and there, right before us were several flowers with blooms that looked like painted optic grass ends, sparklers, or exploding fireworks fixed in time.  What was it??  We were introduced to the Allium Schubertii.  The florets on the female plant grow to 2” long, and if you are lucky and get a male bulb, the florets grow to 8”, creating an explosion of pink starbursts.  Generally the plant is 12 to 16” high, do not need to be dug and stored in the winter in zones 5-9.  If you have not tucked a few of these bulbs into your flower beds, this Fall is the time.  They bloom in early Summer with a bang! Photo by Karen Anderson. Article by sogrowsmygarden.