Alliums do not like my clay soil except for sphaerocephalon, which I do not like very much, and angulosum, which thrives and attracts a lot of insects, but it is a wishy-washy colour (like other common Alliums) and I would not grow it otherwise. Nectaroscordum siculum is related to the alliums and seems to be tolerant of clay so I am am going to plant some in Autumn to see how they do.
The foliage is ugly and hard to hide, the flower heads can be lost to weather, there are fewer of them every year and they are expensive. I think there are more reliable and nicer May/June flowering plants.
I think it probably depends where you are buying them and what your soil is like. I absolutely love alliums, and have them all through the garden, theyre probably my favourite plant. I get them from dutchbulbs usually (j parkers wholesale site), where they are cheap as chips depending on the variety. Far from diminishing, they have started multiplying in our garden, with new ones popping up each year. I think a lot depends on the variety though, white giant and mount everest do well for me, purple sensation is patchy, but others like summer drummer and white cloud seem to struggle. As for the foliage I suppose it depends on the type of borders you have, its a struggle finding the foliage for me!
I like small to medium alliums and similarly to others, find them (and anemones) a good bridge between spring and summer. I really don’t like those giant ones though they look too alien and put of place for me. My favourite is Atropurpureum. Purple Rain does well here, although it’s verging on the medium-large size, it’s not brash or shouty.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Didn't realise Alliums were so popular. None of our neighbours, friends or family have it. It's not a plant you see in supermarkets. Councils or commercial sites don't use them. It's not a plant landscapers use for new developments. It's not your typical cottage garden plant (according to gardeners world top 12 key cottage garden plants). It's not typically used in a small urban garden or low maintenance garden or rockery.
So one has to wonder on what basis you figured it's common as much!
Warwickshire council uses them, they are on roundabouts in Leamington Spa and Rugby at least, probably other towns too but I haven't been to those lately!
I love alliums but they don’t like my garden, only sphaerocephalon comes back year on year. I think their popularity is down to the Chelsea Flower Show, they seemed to be in every show garden for a few years so we’re widely seen.
Funny you should say that, I have very free draining sandy soil yet not a single one of my purple sensations (around 20-30 planted Autumn 2019) have made it through to a second year of flowering. Some depressed looking leaves appeared at most but that was about it.
That being said, all the purple rain planted around the same time have returned and are in fine fettle. Sphaerocephalon have been coming back for 3-4 years now too.
I have very free draining sandy soil yet not a single one of my purple sensations (around 20-30 planted Autumn 2019) have made it through to a second year of flowering. Some depressed looking leaves appeared at most but that was about it.
That's interesting as I have heard allium nurseries say that this is the ideal soil. They like to be planted very deep. That also helps to protect from critters digging them up. Feeding as they are dying back after flowering is supposed to help. @Dirty Harry
My alliums are planted in raised beds and rarely come back - too loamy and not planted deep enough, I would guess. My neighbours and friends don't know globe alliums and are mesmerised by them - kids love them.
I think they are one of things, like tulips and wall flowers - that are always best as a mass planting - a whole mass bed, not five or ten or a few dotted about - a solid block in one place.
@Jellyfire you still have my favourite garden on the forum.
I'm still coveting a good late flowering allium that will grow well (pref white), summer drummer and white cloud down prosper for me, so any suggestions welcome
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Far from diminishing, they have started multiplying in our garden, with new ones popping up each year. I think a lot depends on the variety though, white giant and mount everest do well for me, purple sensation is patchy, but others like summer drummer and white cloud seem to struggle.
As for the foliage I suppose it depends on the type of borders you have, its a struggle finding the foliage for me!
That being said, all the purple rain planted around the same time have returned and are in fine fettle. Sphaerocephalon have been coming back for 3-4 years now too.
I'm still coveting a good late flowering allium that will grow well (pref white), summer drummer and white cloud down prosper for me, so any suggestions welcome