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Ornamental onions (Allium sp.) are really coming in to both color and form right now in the spring garden. In the same genus as our edible "grocery store" onions, garlic, shallots and chives, the spring-blooming ornamental onions are typically planted in fall along with tulips (Tulipa), garden hyacinths (Hyacinthus) and daffodils (Narcissus). With average bloom times between mid-May and early July, these perennial bulbs will offer wonderful splashes of color in full sun (preferable) or part shade. Of equal importance, they all also offer great flower form. To the above left is Allium 'Purple Sensation' with Tiger Eyes sumac (Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger'). This variety is one of the most cost effective alliums for massing and we have over 10,000 of these at Rotary Botanical Gardens. These colorful spheres are a feature that our visitors enjoy each year. It's important to consider that all flowers have a form or architecture that can be a great visual addition in the bed and border. Mixing up flower architectures in our plant combinations will provide additional interest and visual texture. Many of these ornamental onions are called "puff balls on a stick" as they have spherical umbels (flower clusters) that seem to float amongst our spring plant combinations. It is important to note that there are many other perennial alliums that are planted for their summer or early fall blooms (i.e. 'Summer Beauty' and 'Ozawa'). The awesome alliums mentioned in this blog are typically fall planted and ultimately achieve summer dormancy weeks after they finish blooming. Some selections also have interesting foliage like Allium karataviense 'Ivory Queen' seen to the above right. Directly below is the tumbleweed onion (Allium schubertii) which is the size of a volleyball although is marginally hardy for us.
Do check out your local garden centers and mail order bulb catalogs in late summer for the great range of alliums that is available for your home garden. When planting these bulbs, follow the old standard of planting the bulb at the depth of three times the height of the bulb. For instance, 2" tall allium bulbs would be planted at a 6" depth. Ornamental onions are adaptable to a wide range of soils although heavy clay will prove limiting. Critters (including deer) tend to leave alliums alone, both in the ground and while they emerge and bloom. I do need to share a warning that some of these selections will scatter significant seed and you will see "babies" coming up the following year. Some of these are indicated at the end of this blog. You will have to make the decision to avoid these species, allow them to colonize or cull out the seedlings in spring as they emerge. At Rotary Botanical Gardens, we have enjoyed many years of interest from a wide range of these allium species and varieties. About 10 years ago, we received a donation that allowed us to plant over 50,000 allium bulbs representing 54 species and/or varieties. Many still are doing well as perennials and offer mid spring interest in areas that we later fill with annuals after the bulbs have gone dormant. Another consideration with some of the taller alliums in regards to placement is that their foliage is in the lower third of the plant height. This is nice as the flowers seem to be "floating" above and amongst neighboring plants. However, the drawback is that this foliage (originally emerging in March) is starting to yellow as the plant is blooming. Essentially, these selections have unsightly "knees" and you may want to consider having surrounding perennials help obsure and/or mask that foliage. Once the flowers of these alliums fade, the foliage has already yellowed enough to cut that plant back at ground level as it is heading in to summer dormancy. When cutting faded alliums back, be wary of getting the plant sap on clothing as it creates a very stubborn orange stain. Directly below and in sequence are the Star of Persia (Allium christophii), Allium 'Globemaster' "floating" above other perennials and at the bottom are the white spheres of Allium 'Mt. Everest' combined with the dark violet of Allium 'Mars'. As I type this blog, we have yet to see blooms from Allium azureum (24"), Allium sphaerocephalon (30") and Allium flavum (30") and Allium moly (12"). The first two species just mentioned reseed prolifically! The second two mentioned are known for their yellow blooms. Look all of these up and do more research on on these alliums can be awesome additions to your garden.
All the photos included in this blog were taken over in the Netherlands as part of a trip sponsored by Rotary Botanical Gardens. This trip, April 10th thru the 17th, allowed our group to enjoy many beautiful gardens including Keukenhof, Appeltern Gardens, The Floriade (happens every 10 years) and many others. I was amazed at the number of displays that involved the vertical arrangement of plants. Some of these systems were simple fabric or plastic "pockets" while others were more elaborate. Some actually held soil for direct rooting of the plants while others had the plants rooting in an engineered felt that is perpetually drenched with nutrient solutions. The engineering behind these systems is of note as it has to accomodate the maximum mass of the wet soil (if a factor) and the plants themselves. All of these vertical systems had a nice visual impact and were immediately focal points with their effective (and colorful) use as a screen, "softening" effect or simply an opportunity to demonstrate the value of growing upwards and maximizing the impact in a smaller space. 
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