Allium - Giant of the Onions

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

ALLIUM – Giant of the Onion Family 

Allium giganteum bulbs

Description

Ornamental Onion is a bulbous perennial characterized by its showy pink flowers and its garlic onion fragrance. The leaves are long, slender, and strap-like.They come up as a tight, upright cluster and then usually lie flat at the base of the plant. Leaves are glaucous, which means that they are green with a tinge of blueish-gray – from the epidermal wax.Plants often die down shortly after blooming has occurred. 

Environment

Native to the Himalaya region, this allium can be found growing in forests, naturalized areas, and in disturbed areas. 

Care

Although it tolerates summer drought, it should be kept moist during the growing season. Plant at a depth of 8” to the base of the bulb and 12” apart in Full Sun.Allium are not readily suited for a windy spot – so keep in mind where to place them on a rooftop garden. 

Flowers

seeds

It blooms in early summer and lasts 2-3 weeks. Long stalks rise to 4’ tall, with a large umbel of densely clumped florets. These are small, 6-parted, and in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. Tiny seeds form on the umbel. 

Plant Problems

Prone to aphids – so be ready! 

Yellow aphids 

 Overly damp soil conditions lead to fungal issues, including a black rot that appears on the leaves and bulbs, destroying the plant. 

Poisonous

Not really poisonous - but eating flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea due to the sulfides they contain. Just to be sure - keep away from children and pets. 

Varieties

Allium giganteum is purple

Allium “ambassador” is violet

Allium “summer drummer” pinkish mauve

Allium “gladiator” light purple pink

A stipitatum is white

How about filling your garden with a sea of Giants !

Here in NYC we plant them in Fall for spectacular Spring pop !

Call us - we know our Allium !  

PLANT SPECIALISTS

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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