6th June 2022 - Amazing alliums

Today I’m sharing my love of alliums and what’s not to love? They’re dramatic, colourful, long lasting, and make great cut flowers or architectural elements in the garden long after the flowers and stems have dried. If that wasn’t enough, the bees and bugs adore them which is enough of a reason to plant a few I think!

At the moment I’m growing six varieties in my garden but I also have my eye on a few more to add next year. So here’s my top ten to try whether you’re new to alliums or a fellow allium enthusiast.

Allium nigrum

These alliums are white with a slightly flattened top. I love whites with green in the garden, but these also look elegant in the hot pink and burgundy bed in the front garden. Like little diamonds floating above the flowerbed.

Allium nigrum

Allium Christophii

These alliums are very recognisable with their relatively short stems and huge mauve globes of flowers; they always remind me of fireworks! This is their first year in the garden and they are lining the driveway taking over from a display of Sarah Raven’s Perchhill Mix tulips. In front of the London stock brick wall in the front garden the mauve against the yellows and greys just works so well. Just behind them, gladioli are coming up and I’m planning to sow some ammi majus too (I know, I'm a little late as with everything in the garden this year). I will probably leave the heads on once they’ve dried for a while, but if they’re obscuring the glads I’ll cut them and keep them in the garage or cellar and then spray them with silver or gold for a Christmas display.

Allium 'Christophii'

Allium Summer Drummer

If you want height, and drama, these are the alliums for you. Gorgeous purple spheres atop 1.8 m high or more stems. They sway beautifully in the wind but usually hold their own with tying or staking, particularly when planted in clusters. We have these in our front garden and passers-by often say that they look forward to them blooming each summer. We leave these up in the beds until the wet weather takes hold and then bring them in to fill a very tall vase or a porcelain umbrella stand in the porch.

Allium Everest

Another white allium, taller than allium nigrum and with the typical globe head. I’m waiting impatiently to bloom in our white rose bed. Behind it on the raised patio we have a lot of leafy green herbs and vegetables which provide a backdrop against which the white stands out.

Allium moly

This is my first year growing this and I’m in love! It’s such a vibrant yellow and much smaller and more delicate than most alliums, it’s dotted around the front of a large semicircular border, planted with allium azureum. The combination is really zingy and it is doing a great job punctuating the blue mauve flowers of a geranium and some campanula.

Allium azureum

I adore true blue flowers, and this allium is definitely blue not purple. It works so well with allium moly but would also look great dotted in amongst orange geums or perhaps with white and green flowers and foliage plants for a pared back and contemporary scheme.

New for next year

Allium atropurpureum

I saw this at the weekend in my parents' garden. What a stunner! The saturated blackcurrant colour looks just lovely and would be great with other jewel colours. I don't know where I'm going to put them but I'll definitely be getting some for next year. 

Allium 'Silver Spring'

This allium looks quite similar to allium nigrum but with the added interest of purple 'beads' nestled in the white flowers. These turn to green as the flowers age and make for a really interest flower. 

Allium obliquum

After the success of allium moly, I'm tempted by another yellow allium, Allium obliquum. A paler, lemon yellow, I think this could work well with pastels or in a hotter bed like my red, orange and yellow bed in the front garden. I'm tempted to add some to the cutting garden too.

Allium nevskianum

I love something a little rare or unusual and this miniature allium seems to fit the bill. I'm going to give it a go this year, nestled at the front of the border between some Heuchera 'Obsidian' and cerinthe. 

I'd love to hear which alliums you're growing, or if I've convinced you to try any. 

Happy gardening. 

Heather