Allium

xyz123

Hi, I am a relatively novice Gardner and need some help please. I would like to grow Allium. I like the tall flowers. This might be a silly question hut bear with me.

Most allium I have seen in other people's garden have nice tall flowers but leaves leaves are quite small, many are yellow. Are all allium like this where they are better off planted in amongst other plants so the leaves are not exposed too much or are there any particular varieties which have quite a bushy growth with talll flowers.

Many thanks

elsien

They grow from bulbs so the leaves are never going to be particularly bushy.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=316

MysteryMe

If you like the look of the Allium flower you could consider an Agapanthus, they have more substantial leaves. They are not bulbs, you either buy bare roots or more likely this time of year a pot. Unless they are an evergreen variety the foliage will die down but not until well into the autumn/early winter.

Francesanne

I've grown a pot of Alliums for the last 1st time this year and I love them. Bought a packet containing 3 bulbs from the Pound shop and very impressed with them. They are beautiful. Will be growing more nex year.Many experts suggest planting them in borders so other plants will hide their rather unimpressive leaves.

Primrose

I'm afraid the downside of most alliums is their tatty leaves. I've got several varieties growing in my borders and they all behave in the same way. I try to dig the bulbs in between other plants so the leaves are largely hidden by the foliage of other plants and go round the borders from time to time snipping off the worst of the yellowing leaves when they look too unsightly.


If you like height and purple, how about growing some purple flowered delphiniums. They are perennials so come up every year and the leaves are attractive too. Agapanthus would also work but can be rather temperamental and they don't always flower. Purple foxgloves are another tall border plant which are eye catching and the bees love them but can have a habit of self seeding, so you'll have to remove seedlings if too many of them appear..