When should I plant Allium bulbs?
Allium bulbs need to be planted in early to mid Autumn. So, we would suggest planning to plant in October. As they are spring-flowering you can plant them at the same time as daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. For allium flower care, these vibrant blooming plants are pretty easygoing when it comes to watering. They are a drought resistant plant that requires very little care: Water bulbs in well after initial planting to help them establish themselves before winter sets in.The dried seed heads are the epitome of garden glamour and can be left to twinkle like stars in your borders, providing food and shelter for bugs and birds until the end of the season. Unlike some other spring flowers, allium bulbs can be left in the ground over winter and don’t need lifting.The nectar-rich flowers of alliums will attract butterflies, bees and hoverflies. Now is the perfect time to plant them for a lovely spring display.Do Allium bulbs spread? Many Allium plants will self-seed and spread if you let them (but not the Globemaster variety which is sterile). Deadhead spent blooms to prevent self-seeding.
What is an Allium bulb?
Among the most interesting and diverse of the fall-planted flower bulbs, alliums keep gaining in popularity year after year. These beauties are actually wild flowering onions with a huge range of attributes. Light: Allium thrive in full sun, but can tolerate part-shade conditions.Available in shades of purple, pink, blue, and even yellow, they are a great way to bring unique color and texture to the landscape from early spring right up until fall. Not just a pretty face, Allium bulbs are also very hardy and incredibly easy to grow.Sun or Shade: Alliums grow best in full sun, though most types will also tolerate partial shade. Hardiness Zone: The bulbs are generally winter hardy in zones 3-8.Most alliums need full sun to grow strong and flower well. Nectaroscordum siculum (Allium bulgaricum) will take some shade.
What not to plant with alliums?
Plants Not To Grow With Alliums Alliums also need ample sunlight, so deep shade-loving plants such as ferns, hostas, and epimediums do not make good companion plants. Avoid planting any type of Allium, ornamental or edible, near beans and peas in the edible kitchen garden. Most alliums are perennials. If the species you are planting is winter hardy and the bulbs are well-suited to the growing conditions in your yard, they will usually return to bloom again.Most Alliums will do best in full sun and well-drained soil. Plant tall Alliums in a sheltered spot to stop the stems blowing over in strong winds. In shady gardens, plant yellow-flowered Allium moly, which prefers light afternoon shade, or purple-flowering chives (Allium schoenoprasum).Most alliums are hardy in zones 3-8 and should be planted in fall or early winter, after the first frost but before the ground freezes. The size of the bulb varies depending on the variety and because of this, planting depth and distance between the bulbs also varies.Alliums do best in a sunny spot in a very well-drained soil. They’re not fussy about soil type. Plant taller varieties towards the back of a border and shorter-growing types in the front. Alliums are well suited to growing in pots but their strappy foliage can look unsightly after flowering.Most bloom in late spring through June. Alliums are members of the Amarylidaceae family, which includes amaryllis, leeks, scallions, leeks, chives and of course, onions. There are about 600 different species of alliums, and most of them are native to North America, with the remaining hundred or so occurring in China.
Do alliums grow back every year?
Alliums are bulbous perennials, living up to four years after planting. With a long flowering season, they bloom for weeks on end, bridging the gap between spring and summer. Allium leafminer (ALM) has two generations per year (bivoltine). ALM overwinters in the pupal stage either within its host or in soil adjacent to its host. Adults emerge in the spring between late March and late April and the first generation is completed in early June.