Allium is one of the perennial plants I love growing here in northwest Arkansas. Since mine is blooming now, what better time to introduce you to the lollipops of my garden. These beauties adds such quirky personality to the garden.
Each tall stem includes a globe of tiny flowers. The unique flower structure makes allium a favorite for pollinators and beneficial insects. Bonus: allium is deer, rabbit, and squirrel resistant. This is a major consideration for me. Deer stroll down from Mount Sequoyah and visit our street regularly.
If I had to guess, I’d say Dr. Seuss had a hand in the design of this whimsical flower. A member of the onion family, allium grows from bulbs planted in the fall. They are thoughtful, too. They bloom just when you are sad to see your tulips wilt away.
Planting & Growing
- Plant bulbs in the fall
- Give them well-drained soil
- Plant to a depth 3x bulb size
- They prefer full sun
- Hardy in zones 3-8
- Depending on variety, allium may grow to 5 feet tall
- They come in shades of purple, pink, white, and blue
- Great for cut gardens
After Blooming
After allium blooms, I prefer to leave the stems to dry. This not only adds a sculptural look to the garden, but also allows the bulbs to grow larger and seeds to scatter.
Aren’t they fantastic?
I planted mine two years ago from a Tall Mix package. My varieties are Sensation (purple) and Mt. Everest (white). There’s a blue variety I may add next because every garden needs more blue.
Do you Remember?
When you were a kid, did you play Candyland? My sister and I loved this delightful trip through the Land of Sweets, across Gumdrop Mountain and through the Molasses Swamp. I played it with my kiddos, too. Of course by then the Gingerbread Plum Tree had disappeared into a Licorice Lagoon. And somehow, Queen Frostine had been demoted to a mere Princess…
In the magical way memories influence us, I believe Candyland is one of the reasons allium fascinates me so.
And, if Candyland was a garden instead of a board game, Frostine (who will forever be a queen to me) would live in a forest of allium. I feel certain of this.
Do you have allium blooming in your garden?
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
P.S. In September, I’ll remind you to plant allium bulbs for next year’s spring garden.
[tweetthis]Allium: the lollipops of my garden… [/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
The Chordates, Lollipop
I used to have some allium. I think they were over come by the weeds. Boohoo! Mine were purple. They were given to me by a nice little old lady who also gave me some coral bells which have also disappeared from my flower bed. I’ll just have to enjoy your beautiful flowers. I have a deer problem too and they trample what they don’t eat. Happy gardening.
Coral Bells are some of our favorites! I know you have a deer problem but I love all the wildlife you see and photograph!
My aliums in Wyoming are just coming up but not blooming yet..they are new to me, going on there second year and since I am moving to North Central Arkansas in 3 WEEKS (yippee) I am delighted to know they do as well in Arkansas. Julie
Yes, they should do well in Central Arkansas. Welcome to Arkansas!