Here are some interesting photos of allium bulbils. As opposed to lilies, for example, where the bulbils appear in the leaf axises, allium bulblets appear in the infloresence. The "withered" brown spots are the (purple) flowers which will turn into seed heads, but the bulbils are found inside the main flower.
Here is the picture of the flower inflorescence with the bulbils
Here is another closer (and better) picture showing the bulbils close-up
I never knew that. That's helpful since I have many blooming now. So do I need to dry them and plant in the fall or just let them drop and do their own thing?
Kathy
You should not let them dry. Either let them drop, or when the flower head has completely withered, you can gently pick them off and plant them in well draining soil in a "nursery bed" or other similar protected area.
I've never notice that they had bulbils. I'm going to have to pay more attention. Thanks for pointing this out.
:) Donna
k. thanks for the info on bubils---have you been successful in getting a 'crop' from the bubils? I cannot even get my large allium to come back a second year.
--I am looking at Brent & Bekcy's and Scheeper's allium pages http://www.johnscheepers.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=Allium , wondering which big/tall allium to order---was wondering what you recommended or had good luck with?
I have tried giganteum, globemaster, gladiator, purp. sensation, and some of the smaller ones--trouble is, I can't remember what's what where... I would like them to bloom in late may with Siberian Iris, especially...
any thoughts? Thanks very much. t.
My favorites are purple sensation followed by gladiator (tall). I was not impressed by globemaster. My purple sensations comes back reliably and blooms in late may.
