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Problem with Alliums

JaneyedJaneyed Posts: 13
in Problem solving
With exception of one bulb all of my allium bulbs have grown into long thin green leaves that look more like grass, can anyone advise me what has happened to them. Should I remove them or just cut then back. Thank you in advance



Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Which type of alliums are they supposed to be, and have they flowered or started to show flower buds? Some types do have grass-like foliage.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JaneyedJaneyed Posts: 13
    Thank you, I can’t remember to be honest, but no flowers or buds just 3 grass like long thin floppy shoots from each bulb bar one 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Allium sphaerocephalon is about the latest-flowering one and that has thin leaves, so I recommend wait and see. Don't worry if the foliage starts dying back before flowers appear - that's what many alliums do.
    If they don't produce any flowers at all this year then possibly the bulbs are too young/small so it's your choice whether you chuck them out, or keep them, or complain to wherever you bought them if it was a reputable supplier (because they shouldn't be selling bulbs that haven't got to flowering size). If you keep them then the foliage needs to be left until it's fully died off to build up the bulbs for next year (the same as any other flowering bulb).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    Sounds like they might be allium sphaerocephalon, they have very long, slim leaves. They flower July-August so won’t be showing any flower heads yet
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Snap!!
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JaneyedJaneyed Posts: 13
    Thank you very much. I will leave them and see what happens
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