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Purple Sensation Alliums

Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation'

About:

Alliums are in the Amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, and are native to the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. There are over 700 species, including onions, garlic, chives, shallots and leeks. The blooms of alliums are held in umbels, tight or loosely clustered individual flowers, equal in length and spreading from a common point. The foliage smells of garlic or onions when bruised (the word ‘allium’ is Latin for garlic). Alliums usually bloom in early summer, providing a link between spring-blooming bulbs and summer-blooming perennials. Purple Sensation Alliums will produce large spheres, comprised of clusters of violet-purple, star-shaped florets.

Planting:

Plant allium bulbs according to the label instructions. The rule of thumb is to plant two to three times as deep as the diameter of the bulb. Choose an area that receives full sun and has good drainage. Alliums will grow in a wide variety of soils, providing it drains well.

Maintenance:

Alliums are easy to grow and fairly pest free. Fertilize in the early spring with a well-balanced fertilizer. As with other spring- and summer-blooming bulbs, let the foliage die back on its own, allowing the plants to create energy for next year’s blooms. Plant among perennial plants to hide the withering foliage. Most alliums will grow from seed; deadhead the spent blooms if you do not want volunteer plants.