Alliums – your secret weapon for all season color
It’s always hard for me to think "fall bulbs" in August. It’s 90 degrees and our perennial lot is in full bloom. The thought of bulbs pushing through the cold, wet landscape of spring is exciting, however that payoff is so long off! Hmmm, so how to wrap my mind around summer blooms, fall plantings, and springtime? I came up with a “genius” idea. Alliums! Bulb Alliums, perennial Alliums. One family blending together for a full season of color, texture, and beauty.
So here’s the plan. Starting with our “Early Order Fall Bulb Program”, choose your Alliums.
Allium 'Purple Sensation' is deep violet, 'Azureum' is blue. Both range in height from 24”-36”.
The large 'Gigantium' and 'Globemaster' are both deep purple with a height of at least 3’ and 5”-8” flowers. All four are pest resistant and bloom May-June.
Then the perennial Alliums. As those showy blooms from the fall-planted Alliums die off, the summer Alliums take charge. Allium 'Summer Beauty' blooms mid-June-July with 1 1/2” lavender flowers and shiny dark green foliage. The rosy-purple 'Millennium' kicks in July-August with an average height of 15”-18”. August and September follows up with 'Blue Eddy', which has lavender-pink flowers, it is the shortest with a height of less than a foot. Although Alliums prefer full sun they will take light shade, and they are pest and deer resistant.
There are hundreds of varieties of Alliums. I have showcased seven, ranging from deep purple to lavender to blue. All in different heights and textures. For a soft palette you can add light yellows, pinks, and whites and for a strong, vivid, more contrasting look, choose reds and brighter yellows. But whatever your color choices you can’t go wrong with a plan that lasts all season.
Don’t forget your Bulb Tone! This is a great fertilizer to include when planting any bulb. For details on our Early Order Bulb program, click on the graphic above!
