Allium Species, Persian Onion, Star of Persia

This plant elicits comments and questions more than any in my garden when it's blooming and for weeks afterwards as the dry seedhead stil...Read Morel looks like fireworks. It has been perennial for me, even coming back for 7 years in a poor garden situation where I have a MG project. I am adding more this year.

This is another huge globed Allium, with it's 10+ inch globes that are an incredible Deep Violet color with a hint of Silver and a touch ...Read Moreof green in the centers it is indeed striking and a beauty in any garden. Beautiful Sword like leaves top it all off and keep a spot for future blooms the next season.

Planted Star of Persia last fall on a whim -- and what a successful whim it was! All five bloomed this late spring (just as iris were fad...Read Moreing), with 8" or so across heads containing 100 or so (I didn't count) individual stars of a gun-metal blue. Gorgeous. I'm thinking of moving them away from the iris, though -- they're a bit shorter and I want to show them off next spring! (Perhaps with a background of "Black Tie Affair" bearded iris?) I'm in Zone 6, they get full sun.

These are fantastic! My husband calls them dandilions on steriods! I planted 5 or 6 bulbs 3 years ago. The first year, only one deform...Read Moreed flower appeared and some leaves. Last year, there was one 6-7 inch bloom and more leaves. This year, there is a 12" bloom plus 4 smaller blooms, about 6-7 inches. Next year I anticipate them to be all 12 inch in size. They are on the south side of the house in zone 4 with no winter mulch.

I have several bulbs growing happily here in Zone 4, and without winter mulch. Perhaps it is the thaw-
freeze cycles that determ...Read Moreine the difference?

I have not found this variety of allium to be hardy in Zone 5, even with mulch! The only occasion this variety overwinters is when we ha...Read Moreve had an extremely mild (Zone 6/7) winter!

Allium christophii bears the largest flowers in the genus. Spherical clusters 8-12" across, composed of many amethyst blue star s...Read Morehaped flowers that are 1/2" wide. There are 3-7 leaves on sturdy 1 1/2-2' stalks. They need full sun and bloom from early spring to early summer.

May be left undisturbed for years until fewer blooms signal that bulbs are overcrowded. They can be separated after foliage dies back. Winter mulch should be used north of Zone 5.