“Let the little ones go to the front…”
While the large ones in the middle of the bed attract attention, low ornamental onions at the edge of the bed attract attention. For example, the 25 cm highBluetongue garlic(Allium karataviense) with decorative, gray-green foliage and silvery, shimmering, pale purple flower globes. This species is ideal as an eye-catcher for the foreground of borders, where the long-lasting blue leaves remain for a long time. One of the few ornamental onions that doesn't need to hide its foliage! The blue-tongue onion (the variety 'Ivory Queen' has white flowers!) also cuts a fine figure in the rock garden. Another must-have for the rock garden is theGolden garlic(Allium moly). This charming little ornamental onion has—as its name suggests—golden-yellow, hemispherical inflorescences and gray-blue-green, healthy foliage. This prolific flowering species, also only 25 cm tall, is not only popular with gardeners, but is also swarmed by bees and butterflies.
How to make ornamental onions look great in the garden
The bicolored flower heads of Allium spaerocephalon resemble small drumsticks. Flowering in August, it's a charming late bloomer.
Ornamental onions and their ilk prefer fertile, permeable, and well-drained soil in full sun. The only exception is wild garlic (Allium ursinum), which, as a forest plant, prefers a partially shaded location. Tall ornamental onions provide real highlights in the perennial border during the rather sparsely flowering period between spring and summer. Planting them among the perennials cleverly conceals the somewhat unsightly, yellowing foliage of the ornamental onion, which already begins to bloom before it blooms. Be sure to let the leaves die back; do not cut them off!
The best time to plant onions is in autumn – October/November. Depending on the variety, allium bulbs are planted 10 to 20 cm deep. Otherwise, the general rule of thumb for bulbs applies: twice as deep as the bulb is tall. It's recommended to mix some compost or organic complete fertilizer into the soil when planting the bulbs. Since alliums don't tolerate winter wetness, gravel or coarse sand should be worked into the planting hole for drainage in heavy soils. To ensure that the ornamental onion continues to bloom profusely for many years after planting, give it a dose of organic complete fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer every one to two years at the beginning of leaf growth, raking it in around the plants.
TIP:Even after flowering, ornamental onions are not lacking in charm. The seed heads have decorative value—in the flowerbed or in dried bouquets—a lovely reminder of early summer and its spherical, flowering delights.
TEXT: Martina Raabe
