There was a sparkling show of long stemmed Alliums at our church flower festival this weekend.

This Allium christophii must be one of the most attractive flowers for garden or cutting. the leaves are a disappointment and I recommend growing some annuals as cover as they die back in an unsightly manner.

Lolly pop like Alliums  look exceptional when in flower in May until you look at the leaves which tend towards the scruffy. The seedheads are also eye catching and worth leaving although seed production may drain strength. The leaves are the way a plant builds up strength for next year as they help sunlight convert nutrients into food. Fortunately they do not cause any problem and can be taken over by other plant leaves soon after flowering. Mulch to provide food and encourage leaf growth or your Alliums will be shorter lived.

Gardeners Tips for Alliums

• Generally Alliums need a sunny position and good drainage. Given both they will reappear year after year but may deteriorate if the leaves do not get a chance to do there job.
• Plant bulbs in the autumn at twice the depth of the bulb and top up your stock of Alliums for those lost or not performing well.
• Congested clumps can be lifted and divided  straight after flowering.
• Dead-head before the seeds disperse to preserve strength or if you want to avoid unwanted seedlings.

Tips on Alliums to Grow

• Allium karataviense ‘Ivory Queen’ shown above is a short stemmed white flowering variety.
• Allium flavum is a small and distinctive species bearing umbels of  yellow bells in summer.
• Allium giganteum  grows up to 6 feet tall with purplish-pink spherical heads.
• Allium christophii is a classic with spectacular flowers upto 10″ across
• Allium scubertii is like a radiating firework 15″ across
• Allium lenkoranicum is best planted in groups with odd long wispy petals.

Buy your Allium bulbs in September or October and get a good display in late spring.

The RHS is offering 3 Alliums this month for £20.  A. hollandicum Purple Sensation 3′ high. A. stipitatum Mount Everest white 4′ high and A. sphaerocepholon with smaller heads packed with flowers in warm purple, oval clusters.