Best white allium collection
allium collection
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Average
- Flowering period: June
- Hardiness: Fully hardy
- 25 × Allium neapolitanum Cowanii Group: Open clusters of pure white flowers appear in late spring or early summer, creating a soft, lacy effect. The flowers last for ages after being cut and the bees will find them very attractive, so try to plant them in large numbers. In smaller gardens, they look great in pots where they can sit on a sunny patio. Grows to 40cm.
- 10 × Allium nigrum: The grey-green leaves of this ornamental onion generally have started to die back when the flowers emerge in early summer. These sit on tall, sturdy stems forming flattish clusters that create a striking silhouette. Each creamy-white to pale lavender flower has a pronounced ovary at its heart, which looks a little like a green pearl, nestled in the centre. Very pretty - and in big demand after its appearance in Cleve West’s garden at Chelsea in 2012. Grows to 75cm.
- 5 × Allium karataviense: An unusual, low-growing ornamental onion, this produces globes of star-shaped, pinky-white summer flowers cradled between two broad, grey-green, fleshy leaves. Despite its short stems, the flowerheads can reach the size of an orange. Its eyecatching used at the edge of a sunny border or gravel garden. Its also excellent used in dried flower arrangements.
- Garden care: Plant bulbs 10cm deep and 10cm apart to enjoy the full effect of the flowers. Avoid excessive soil moisture, and split and divide large clumps in autumn or spring.
Alliums are loved by bees and they will help add colour to the garden in early summer. They are great for adding contrast and diversity to the border, which also makes them a perennial favourite with garden designers. The cool white flowers in this collection will shimmer like jewels in the garden. All these allium varieties will naturalise well and look good planted in naturalistic swathes or clusters.
The three varieties in this collection will also last well after being cut and make interesting additions to cut or dried flower arrangements. If left in the border after the flowers have faded though, the subsequent seed heads will add months of structural interest.
The three varieties in this collection will also last well after being cut and make interesting additions to cut or dried flower arrangements. If left in the border after the flowers have faded though, the subsequent seed heads will add months of structural interest.
In each collection you will receive the following:
- Pets: TOXIC if eaten; Humans: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten