Allium

The allium plant (Allium), or ornamental onion, is a representative of the Amaryllis family, belonging to the Onion subfamily. This genus includes up to 900 different species that live in the Northern Hemisphere, more than a hundred of which are found in gardens as ornamental plants. It is these species that are called alliums. This approach avoids confusion - there are many vegetable crops belonging to the onion genus, including onions, garlic and leeks. Many alliums are also considered edible and can be used fresh or as an additive to various dishes. In floriculture, their spherical inflorescences are used to decorate flower beds and rock gardens, and are also used for cutting.

Allium description

Alliums are perennials (or biennials) that develop from bulbs that can be of different sizes. Their height can be different and range from 20 cm to 1 m. Representatives of the genus have linear green foliage up to 60 cm long, which is erect or curved in the shape of an arc. The leaf blades of certain varieties may have a bluish waxy coating. Like all representatives of onions, alliums have a common feature - if the leaf of such a plant is damaged, it will begin to smell like garlic.

In nature, alliums can grow in different areas: in meadows, in forests or in steppes. The name of the plants was invented by Karl Linnaeus, it is believed that it comes from the Celtic "pungent" or Latin "odorous".

In spring or early summer, ornamental bow forms hollow and thick bare peduncles, in some species reaching almost 2 m in height. The stems of the peduncles are located vertically, and at the top they develop inflorescences-heads (less often - umbrellas) up to 30 cm in diameter. They contain many small flowers of lilac, blue, purple or white color. Modern varieties of allium can have burgundy or pink inflorescences. Each flower has 5 or 6 petals and forms a star-like shape. All decorative species of allium are conventionally divided into early (May), blooming in the middle or late summer (late) according to the flowering time. On average, flowering lasts 2 to 4 weeks. In the same period, the foliage of the onion gradually begins to turn yellow and wither, therefore, in the flower beds, they try to combine allium with flowers that can mask it during this period. Small-flowered species are widely used in group plantings - so they look spectacular.A garden made of such plants is called an allarium. If you wish, you can grow ornamental onions in containers to decorate your home, porch or garden. In bouquets, onion inflorescences last up to 2 weeks, sometimes they are dried for a winter bouquet.

After the flowering of allium, by the end of summer, achenes, filled with small black seeds, ripen on the peduncles. Sometimes, baby bulbs, called bulbs, form on the heads.

Brief rules for growing allium

The table shows brief rules for growing allium in the open field.

Allium planting outdoors

Landing time and place

Allium bulbs are planted in open ground in early autumn - in September. At the same time, the ground should be slightly cool: about 10 degrees. Such conditions will help the bulbs to take root before frost, but not resume growth.

Most varieties of allium will grow best in an open and well-lit area. In these conditions, the color of their flowers and foliage will be brighter. For planting a decorative onion, a site is selected on a flat place or on a hill with good drainage. Bulbs do not tolerate stagnant moisture well, therefore, they cannot be planted in lowlands and places where water stands for a long time during the period of precipitation. Drainage elements can be added to the soil to ensure that the bulbs do not rot in heavy soil. The reaction of the planting substrate should be neutral. Tall species are placed in corners sheltered from the wind, otherwise their heavy peduncles can lean to the ground or break. If ornamental onions are grown in containers or pots, they must have holes in the bottom and a drainage layer.

Landing rules

For normal development, allium requires loose soil that contains sufficient nutrients. Allium reacts sharply to a lack of potassium. The land for planting the bulbs is prepared in advance, digging up the future bed and adding humus and other necessary fertilizers to it. Then, in the garden, they make holes for the bulbs and spill them with water. The depth of the pits should be 2-3 times the height of each bulb. This will insure them against drying out and possible frost. Large bulbs deepen more than small ones. They maintain a distance of 30 to 50 cm between plantings, focusing on the size of the bushes and their subsequent growth. After planting, the area near the plants is recommended to be mulched. This procedure will protect the soil from crusting, help retain moisture in the soil and improve air access to the roots.

Allium care

Allium does not need any special care measures. Taking care of planting will consist in systematic weeding and loosening, as well as periodic mulching of the soil in the garden.

Watering

Watering is carried out as needed: allium tolerates a short drought better than overflow. But in dry weather, the lack of moisture can affect the beauty of the bushes. The plantings will especially need water during the active growing season and the formation of peduncles. In drought, the development of the bush will stop, but will resume after rain or watering.

Top dressing

For feeding decorative onions, compost is used, as well as wood ash, rich in potassium. Plants will need nutrients during leaf development, bud formation and bulb growth.In the spring, after the formation of foliage, complex compositions rich in nitrogen can be used. For better wintering in September, you should feed the plantings with potassium-phosphorus granules, distributing them in a dry form on the garden bed.

Transfer

Without transplants, alliums are able to develop normally for about 4-5 years, but in hybrid and large-flowered species, flowering weakens without regular transplants. Allium bulbs are recommended to be dug out at the risk of a rainy summer. Digging is carried out when the seeds are fully ripe and the foliage is dry. The leaves are left on the bushes until they die off completely - it transfers nutrients back to the bulb. Subsequent digging will insure the resting plantings from decay. At the beginning of autumn, they are returned to the ground so that the bulbs have time to take root before winter and form flower arrows in due time.

Bulbs should be stored in a moderately warm (about 18-20 degrees), dry and ventilated place. To store small bulbs, use containers with sawdust or peat. So they will certainly not dry out during the rest period. Late flowering ornamental onions can be planted not only in early autumn, but also in spring, in April-May. For the winter, the onion bed usually does not need to be covered, but in case of too frosty winters, you can mulch this area with peat or cover it with spruce branches.

Reproduction of allium

Growing from seeds

The species allium can be grown from seeds, but the seedlings will be able to bloom only after a few years. The exact time depends on the species. So the yellow allium will begin to form inflorescences in the 3rd year of cultivation, and species with very large heads - only for 6-7 years, when the bulbs have reached the required size. The resulting seedlings may have a paler color than the mother bushes.

The conditions for seed germination also depend on the species. For example, before sowing, the seeds of the giant allium are recommended to be stratified in a cold place or winter sowing is recommended. Seedlings can appear in the beds and without outside help: if the decorative onion grows in the most suitable conditions for it, it is capable of self-seeding.

To obtain the most viable seeds, they need to be allowed to mature on the bushes and collected from the very first and largest inflorescences. You can sow seeds in your garden beds or prepare seedlings. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked, and the hatched seeds are planted in containers filled with a mixture of peat, turf and humus. Seedlings are transferred to the street a couple of months after germination.

Reproduction using bulbs

Some species of allium are capable of periodically forming small airy bulbs on inflorescences - bulbs. After treatment with a growth stimulant, they are planted in the beds. Bubbles are considered reliable planting material. They allow you to fully reproduce the species and variety of the mother plant, as well as to get flowering bushes at an earlier date. So blue allium bushes grown from bulbs will begin to bloom next season.

For the reproduction of alliums, you can also use the babies formed by the main bulb. In seedlings, they can appear from the third year of development. Such bulbs are separated in the autumn.

Diseases and pests

Care errors or improper maintenance of ornamental onions (especially high humidity or stagnant water in the soil) can weaken the planting. Under such conditions, downy mildew may appear on the allium, or the bulb will begin to rot. To avoid this, before planting, the bulbs are warmed up in a dryer or oven at 40-50 degrees for about 10 hours, and all the remnants of foliage are carefully removed from the beds at the end of the season. Already affected plants are treated with fungicides or Bordeaux mixture.

Rodents do not harm onions - they do not like their acridity, but root mites, flies and other onion pests can appear on plantings. Chlorophos (2% solution) helps against insects, you can also use folk remedies - tobacco dust or wood ash.

Types and varieties of allium with photos and names

Allium aflatunense

The view is considered one of the tallest.It forms bushes up to 1.5 m in height, and the diameter of its inflorescences reaches 12 cm. The flowers of Allium aflatunense are collected in spherical heads and painted in a delicate shade of purple. Such bushes are attractive and very undemanding to care for. Representatives of the species are able to grow well even in partial shade. Their foliage is considered edible.

"Purple Sense" is a hybrid garden form of the species with deep purple flowers. Such bushes grow up to 70 cm in height.

Allium Gladiator

This decorative onion is considered a close relative of the edible, and its leaves can also be eaten. Allium Gladiator forms 1 meter bushes. Inflorescences reach 20 cm in diameter, they are 6-petal star-shaped flowers of a bluish-lavender color. The flowers have a pleasant smell. The species is often used to decorate rock gardens, and is also combined with irises.

Allium Eros

This onion blooms in June. Its spherical inflorescences can be lilac or pink in various shades. Allium Eros bushes are miniature - up to 35 cm tall, while the size of the inflorescences reaches 10 cm.

Allium roundhead (Allium sphaerocephalon)

The species blooms only in the middle of summer, while flowering lasts about a month. Allium sphaerocephalon has rounded inflorescences of pink or purple flowers. At the same time, the height of the stems reaches 60 cm. The foliage is considered edible, but it is harvested before the formation of the arrow begins.

Allium blue (Allium caeruleum)

This type of onion is considered one of the most elegant ones. Allium caeruleum forms stems up to 80 cm tall. The inflorescences reach 7 cm in diameter and are shaped like a lush umbrella in the form of a sphere or hemisphere. It is composed of up to 250 blue bell flowers. Thanks to the combination of shades and long stamens, it seems that a glow is emanating from the umbrellas.

Allium moly

Bushes of this species reach 30 cm in height. Allium moly forms loose inflorescences with golden stars. Flowering begins at the very end of May and lasts up to 3 weeks.

Allium Christoph (Allium cristophii)

One of the most popular medium-sized species. Allium cristophii usually has a height of no more than 40 cm, although under ideal conditions it can grow up to 60 cm. The inflorescences are spherical and large in size - up to 25 cm. Small flowers are purple or violet in color and resemble a star in shape. They appear in June, and the flowering itself lasts about a month.

Allium ostrowskianum

A miniature bush up to 20 cm high. Allium ostrowskianum blooms with crimson flowers in the form of wide bells. They have a pleasant smell and form inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter.

Allium Ivory Queen

Variety up to 35 cm high. Allium Ivory Queen has ivory-colored inflorescences up to 12 cm wide. When flowering, which lasts about 3 weeks, the plantings exude a strong but pleasant smell. The variety is also notable for its good looks before flowering: its foliage has a blue-green color and a corrugated surface.

Allium bulgaricum

The height of such bushes reaches 90 cm. Allium bulgaricum blooms in early summer, forming variegated inflorescences of two-colored white-purple flowers.

Allium giant (Allium giganteum)

The size of the bush of this allium reaches 1.5 m. Its foliage is wide, belt-like. Allium giganteum has inflorescences up to 8 cm in diameter. Umbrellas contain small flowers-stars of light purple color. They appear in June and bloom for about 3-4 weeks.

Allium oreophilum (Allium oreophilum)

A low, compact allium that lives in rocky terrain. The species is distinguished by tiny bulbs, which are barely larger than a pea. Allium oreophilum only grows up to 10-20 cm in height. Its inflorescences include up to 40 bell-shaped flowers of bright pinkish-purple color.

Allium unifolium

North American view. Allium unifolium forms umbrella-shaped inflorescences. The height of its compact bush reaches 25 cm, due to which such a plant is often used for creating borders or planting in containers.

Allium Schubertii

Bushes up to 30 cm tall bloom in early summer. Allium Schubertii during this period is not very similar to its onion relatives: its gray-lilac flowers are distinguished by long pedicels and form bizarre spectacular inflorescences. They can be used for regular or dry bouquets.

Allium Cowanii

The species blooms in late spring. Allium Cowanii forms long stems-peduncles up to 40 cm in height, on which balls with snow-white flowers bloom. Each one reaches 4 cm in length and smells good. Flowering lasts about 2-3 weeks. The foliage and stems start to smell like garlic if rubbed.

Allium neapolitan (Allium neapolitanum)

Small bushes can grow up to 35 cm in height. Allium neapolitanum has flowers in the form of wide bells up to 1.5 cm in size. They form a flat or slightly convex umbrella-shaped inflorescence.