Allium yellowing

I planted some Allium (Globemaster) and the foilage is drying/yellowing at the leaf tips but they have not sent up the main stalk with the flower yet. Is this one of those bulb plants where the foilage yellows before the flower is sent up?

I can't believe it's anything I'm doing, I have many other Lilies, etc. right next to the Allium that are doing great.


Also, my Lilies are just starting develop buds and there are lots of tiny black insects on the buds, kind of like rose aphids but black instead of white. I usually don't worry about this kind of thing too much unless they will distort/ruin the blooms. What do you suggest?

Thanks

This perfectly normal for alliums. When you think about them being from the onion family the foliage on those would be dying by the time the onions set their flowers - we harvest the bulbs before they get a chance to flower! For ornamental alliums I try and plant them beside other perennials that are growing fast so that they foliage covers the yellowing allium leaves. However a bit of yellow on a leaf is a small price to pay for their wonderful flowers! For your lilies I normally have a spray bottle filled with soapy water (washing up liquid) and every few days I go out and spray the buds if there are any bugs on there. It does get rid of them and doesn't harm any other beneficial insects which might prey on them for me!

darn. I wish I had known the info about the alliums last year. When I planted mine and the leaves started getting ugly, I assumed it was simply too hot in TX and yanked them out. I haven't really seem anybody growing alliums near me, but that doesn't necessarily mean they wont.

Will have to try again next year.

Yes do give it another try. Good luck.