To add a delicious touch of whimsicality to your garden this time of year , how about growing giant alliums ? They ’re a divers group of ornamentals that seem to seem directly out of a Dr. Seuss volume ! And you ’d never hazard it from their look , but gargantuan Allium are members of the onion plant family ( efflorescence onions ) .
In many sizes , shapes , and colors , jumbo genus Allium all share a subtle oniony scent when their foliation is oppress . The oniony smell should n’t dissuade you , though . The flowers are sweetly fragranced . And gargantuan alliums are immense on charm , which make them downright terrific .
One tiptop fun favourite is Allium giganteum . From its 4 foot marvelous stalks to its big 5 - column inch orotund purple clusters of peak , Allium giganteum is certain to put a gargantuan size grinning on just about any face . A show-stopper in early summer , plant Allium giganteum in your perennial garden for year after year enchantment . You wo n’t be able-bodied to balk the appeal of this gentle behemoth .
How to Grow and Care for Giant Alliums
Most jumbo Allium are brave to U.S. Department of Agriculture Zone 4 . They can be grown from seed , but growing them from bulbs is easygoing , speedier , and recommended . Look for electric-light bulb in local nursery for the varieties that will raise well in your area . Plant alliums in early spring or fall along with other bulb plant life . Provide your lightbulb with rich soil tincture with constituent matter . With the exception of Allium giganteum , who can handle part tad , alliums like full sunlight .
Space bulb of small plants about 4 inches aside and 4 inch deep . For larger diversity , space the bulbs 9 or 10 inch apart and 6 in deep . Maintain moist but well drain land conditions .
genus Allium disperse themselves underground by work bulblets . The bulblets will mature and flower within a couple of growing season . Some genus Allium seed intemperately , too . Consider deadheading before your alliums ego - come everywhere .
Giant Alliums Pests, Diseases, and Problems
Members of the onion folk have build in pest repellant with their stiff sapidity and smell . However , thrips and onion flies will occasionally attempt to give genus Allium a runnel for their money . To guard these pests off , keep your Allium and garden clear of weeds . Defend your plants with a strong spray of water if you recognise these pestilence lurking around .
Alliums are susceptible to waste , mould , and mold , too . These disease spell out too much wet for your plant . Prevent these problems with right spatial arrangement between plant for great deal of air circulation . Make indisputable your alliums obtain plenty of sunshine to dry them out . And that well - run out filth we mentioned earlier will aid the bulbs stay moist but never swampy .
Other Allium Varieties to Try
‘ Blue Globe ’ onion ( Allium caeruleum ) is an decorative onion acquire for its striking true drab flowers . Beautiful alone in a garden , blue globe onions are vivid as cut flowers , too . ‘Star of Persia ’ ( Allium albopilosum ) is for the heavy , round , regal bloom devotee out there . Its star - shaped flowers constellate up to a foot in diam on little 2 foot stalk . Talk about fun!Chinese chive ( Allium tuberosum ) is a late summertime bloomer with fragrant livid clump flowers just in case you did n’t get enough gargantuan alliums earlier in the season .
Want to learn more about growing giant alliums?
See these imagination : How to Grow Alliumsfrom Mother Earth NewsGrowing Guide : Giant Alliumfrom Cornell University
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