Our plant of the month for October is the out and out summer showstopper, the allium, and what better way to celebrate them than with this complete collection!
A wonderful selection of 100 outstanding Allium bulbs, these are sure to create an explosion of colour and provide spectacular displays for your garden, patio or decking. The mix of varieties is ideal for the amateur gardener as they are very tough and hardy, making them extremely easy to look after. This collection will also provide ideal cut flowers sure to brighten up your home, buy yours here!
Why Are Alliums So Special?
Alliums are the genus of monocotyledonous plants, which has hundreds of different varieties! A proud member of the onion family, allium is a Latin word meaning garlic. In 1753 alliums were first recorded by Linnaeus. Many different species of Alliums were used by the ancient Egyptians. We know this as alliums are detailed in their inscriptions and drawings. In the middle of the 19th century, different allium species were used as ornamental plants. This is first time that we know of them being used as flowers and not edibles. Allium plants today are found almost all over the world and enjoyed ornamentally by millions. They however do not grow in the tropics of Australia and New Zealand.
The allium flower is associated with four different meanings, good fortune, unity, patience, and grace and make for the perfect gift. Commonly called, an ‘ornamental onion’ due to its heady chive like scent and onion-like spherical shaped blooms, it is thought by many to have one of the most interesting flowers throughout the summer months. Into autumn the seed heads look incredible with morning dew glistening from the delicate seed capsules.
Pollinators love the vast variations in shape, height, and colour found in this super YouGarden collection.
Which Varieties Feature in the Collection?
This incredible collection has been put together to offer a full range of colours, heights, shapes and sizes and will include the below varieties.
- 7 x Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ bulbs. With its enormous bright purple spherical flower heads stand tall on thin stems above deep-green leaves. Related to onions (but dont eat them!) they are very tough and hardy and they are great for beginners.
- 5 x Allium ‘Christophii’ bulbs. Giant lilac almost solid spheres of flowers stand majestically on long stems above deep green leaves each spring.
- 5 x Allium ‘Siculum’ (Nectaroscordum) bulbs. An unusual relation to the allium family, Nectaroscordum siculum can produce up to 30 hanging flowers from each bulb. Looks wonderful in borders but give some space around the bulb to enable it to grow the large number of flowers.
- 5 x Allium ‘Nigrum’ bulbs. With their white, globe-shaped flower heads sitting above broad, ornamental, blue-green leaves these wonderful alliums will look simply stunning in wherever you plant them in your garden.
- 25 x Allium ‘Moly’ bulbs. A yellow sparkler of a flower head, a more wild and natural looking small variety for front of borders.
- 25 x Allium ‘Drumsticks’ bulbs. Delicate, small purple tinged flowers on long, tall straight stems. Plant en masse for maximum effect in pots or garden.
- 25 x Allium ‘Neopolitanum’ bulbs. Lovely white smaller sparkler flowers, sometimes tinged blush pink in cool, plant together for maximum effect.
- 3 x Allium Giant Red ‘Novelty’ bulbs. Later blooming Alliums with eye-catching punk-like spiky flowers heads that stand on top of the tall slender stems.
Bees and other beneficial pollinators adore alliums. Therefore, this collection is a must have if you are looking to encourage wildlife into your spring garden.
Care Information
Planting Advice for your Allium Collection:
- Find a location where the soil drains well and where they will receive full sun.
- Plant alliums in early to mid-autumn in a sheltered site to prevent top-heavy flower spikes from blowing over.
- Dig over the soil and remove any weeds before planting.
- Water well after planting, saturating the soil around the bulbs. Once established, alliums are drought tolerant.
- In borders, plant bulbs in early autumn at a depth of about four times the diameter of the bulbs.
- Alliums perform well in deep pots with a good general-purpose potting compost with a handful of horticultural grit added.
Aftercare Advice for Alliums:
- After planting, feed with a general-purpose feed such as our Blooming Fast Superior Soluble Fertiliser.
- Remove dried flower heads to create indoor decoration, or leave them on the plants to let them self-seed.
- Divide alliums every three to four years or when the plants begin to look overcrowded and blooming decreases.
- Lift the bulbs with a garden fork or spade and pull the bulbs apart.
- Replant some in the original location and plant the remainder in a new location.
Pruning and trimming advice for Alliums:
- Plant where other plants can mask the foliage, as the leaves die down during flowering.
- Avoid removing them while still green, as they provide the bulbs with energy for the following season
