If you’ve ever passed by enticing globes of color in a garden bed and wondered what the eye-catching and whimsical-looking Flower is, it’s the treasured and easy-to-grow Allium Flower.

A cousin of edible onions, chives, and garlic; the Allium flower makes a striking and dramatic statement in any flower bed. Not only does the allium flower produce illustrious blooms that attract attention from onlookers, but it also draws in honeybees and other beneficial pollinators in late spring and early summer.

Our guide to allium flower care 101 will help you grow and care for this bold and beautiful garden gem, creating tons of visual intrigue to your flower garden for many years to come.

Ideal Soil Composition for Growing Allium Flowers

Plant allium flowers in rich, well-draining soil that is filled with organic matter. Alliums prefer slightly acidic soil that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5.

Allium Flower Light & Temperature Requirements

Plant allium flower bulbs in an area of the garden that receives full sun.  Plants have a relatively short bloom time, so to get the most out of your allium flower plants, provide them with plenty of bright sunlight.

Plant bulbs when soil temperatures cool off to approximately 60 degrees or less.  This should be in September and October for zones 3-7 and October and November for zones 8-10.

Where to Grow Allium Flowers

Allium flower is hardy in zones 3-10 and can be successfully grown both in-ground and in containers. They bloom for a relatively short period of time, so consider mixing them with shorter annual plants like geraniums or petunias, which will provide cover as the plant foliage withers. They also make great companion plants for roses and ornamental grass varieties.

Growing Alliums In-Ground

Allium flowers grow extremely well in-ground as centerpieces, backdrops, and borders. Before planting, be sure to check the height potential of your bulb variety.  Some allium plants are more compact, and others can reach heights of 3-4 feet.

Growing Allium Flowers in Containers

For containers, the planting instructions remain the same as in-ground except that if you live in zones 3-7, they will need more protection from the harsh winter. In colder climates, bring planters indoors and nestle them in an unheated shed, garage, or basement for the winter months.  Set containers outdoors in a desirable full sun location when spring arrives.

When choosing a container for your allium flower bulbs, ensure that the pot has drainage holes in the bottom, as allium does not like wet feet.

How To Plant Allium Flowers

As part of allium flower care 101, follow these steps for planting allium bulbs:

• Plant allium bulbs in the fall when the soil temperature cools down to approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
• Select an area of the garden that drains well and receives full sun conditions.
• Plant allium bulbs at a depth of 3 times the bulb size, which usually translates to 4-8 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart. Plant with the pointed end facing upward.
• Mulching the garden helps to insulate bulbs from hard freezes.
• Water in well and allow them to establish themselves underground as you anticipate their arrival in spring

Allium Flower Care: Watering

For allium flower care, these vibrant blooming plants are pretty easygoing when it comes to watering. They are a drought resistant plant that requires very little care:

• Water bulbs in well after initial planting to help them establish themselves before winter sets in.
• The average rainfall is usually sufficient for allium flower care. In the event of drought conditions, water two to three times per week as needed.

Allium Care & Fertilizing

If you grow your allium flower in soil filled with organic matter, the plant does just fine without much fertilization. If desired, you can add some fertilizer to the garden space in early spring before the flower stalk emerges.

When To Prune Allium Flowers

• As allium plants bloom, the foliage will likely wither some before the plant flowers. Allow the foliage to die back naturally and entirely before pruning it away.
• Allium flowers only bloom once per season, so for allium flower care 101, you won’t need to prune the plant back until it’s one flower has dried. Once the plant has bloomed, allow the bloom stalk to dry completely, pushing all of its energy back into the bulb for next year’s blooms.
• The allium seed head will naturally drop seeds which will form into more bulbs over time. You can also harvest the small black seeds and propagate them in soil.

Recommended Allium Varieties to Grow

Allium flower varieties range from compact to lofty, and their bloom types can vary by plant species. All allium flower varieties are drought resistant, highly fragrant, and attract beneficial pollinators to the garden. They also may lovely cut or dried flowers and add a bold statement to floral arrangements.

Try some of our favorite allium flower varieties and follow our allium flower care 101 guide to growing these showstopping perennial plants:

• ‘Globemaster’: Globemaster allium flower stalks are tall and sturdy, reaching 3 to 4 feet in height. Flowers are large purple spheres that can reach 8-10 inches wide in full bloom.
• ‘Summer Drummer’: Produces large groups of tiny star-like flowers that form a muted purple globe.
• ‘Schubertii’: Allium flower heads of Schubertii varieties resemble bursting fireworks, which add an exciting element to the garden bed.
• ‘Graceful’: The Graceful allium flower is a more compact variety. It produces white globes with flecks of purple. It adds a delicate appeal to borders and attracts beneficial pollinators.
• ‘Purple Sensation‘: The allium flower stalks are 2 feet tall and produce 2-4 inch spherical, vibrant purple blooms.

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