The onion genus, allium has more than 600-750 species plus and still counting within its genera in the Alliaceae family. Allium is a perennial bulbous plant with members like such as onions, shallots, scallions, leeks, garlic, chives, etc. Although alliums are mostly regarded as a vegetable or a herb crop, there are a few species grown for large bright colored flowers too. This article is about these species. Native to the Northern hemisphere, mainly in Asia, ornamental flowering alliums can be grown in most suitable regions around the world.
Allium
It is very difficult to describe allium species, as each varies in height (about 5 to 150 cm), growth habits, with foliage that can either be long and narrow or slightly curled up. The only thing common are the flowers, only in the way they grow, as each species has a different color as well as may vary in flower density on each stalk. The flowers form an umbel produced at the top of a leafless flowering stem known as scapes mostly shooting from the base. It is amazing to watch an inflorescence umbel flower, with the outside flowers blooming first and progressing to the inside.
Although, all alliums bear flowers, it's species and hybrids such as Allium pulchellum, Allium senescens, Allium oreophilum, Allium caeruleum, Allium cowanii, Allium nigrum, Allium karataviense, Allium unifolium, Allium siculum, Allium hollandicum, Allium Firmament, Allium Globe Master, Allium schubertii, Allium rosenbachianum, etc., are the ones that have a high ornamental value and can be easily found in most plant nursery stores.
Allium Bulb Planting
Flowering onions as sometimes these species are called, can be propagated through allium bulbs as well as seeds. However, bulbs are preferred more than seeds, as they take long to seed and have a higher failure rate. They look better when mass planted in flower beds, borders and edgings than in pots. Plant the bulbs around late fall or early spring.
Prepare flower beds by digging deep and apply bulb fertilizer or organic compost such as bone meal, peat moss, well rotted manure, etc. Make sure you choose a sunny spot or at least one that receives 4-6 hours of sunlight everyday. Plant allium bulbs four inches deep in grouping of 4-5 bulbs spacing them about six inches apart, leaving the tip lightly covered in soil. Water adequately. Mulch heavily with dried barks if there is fear of extreme frost and snowfall. The tall varieties can be stalked as it gets heavy during a full bloom. Allium bulbs flower mid summer through late summer and in certain conditions even in early fall.
These bulbs do not need much feeding, a single application when the flower buds begin to appear should suffice. There aren't many pests that attack onion, the pungent smell of onion bulb mostly keeps away troublemakers. However, a few diseases like damping off, botrytis, onion smut, downy mildew can damage the plant. But they can all be taken care of with effective and timely pesticide applications. It is recommended that the bulbs be left undistributed in the ground, and divided every 3-4 years.
Good quality allium bulbs will result in healthy plants and flowers. For using them as cut flowers, cut no more than flower stalk. Grow them and enjoy these lovely species of the onion flowers.
