Ornamental Onion (Allium spp.)

Sun Needs:

• Full sun (best flower production and stem strength in full sun)

Bloom Time:

• Late spring to early summer, with some varieties blooming into midsummer

Size:

Height: Varies by species- Small varieties: 10–18 inches, Large globe types: 2–4 feet
Width: 6 to 18 inches (depends on variety and clump size)

Attributes:

• Globe-shaped blooms on tall stems
• Available in a range of sizes and colors
• Pollinator magnet – attracts bees and butterflies
• Excellent cut or dried flower
• Deer, rabbit, and rodent resistant
• Easy to grow in well-drained soil
• Naturalizes over time
• Hardy in Zones 4–9 (depending on variety)

Companion:

• Catmint (Nepeta) – soft mounding base for tall allium stalks
• Salvia – matches bloom time and attracts pollinators
• Sedum – contrasts well in texture and form
• Coreopsis – cheerful color contrast
• Peonies – similar bloom timing, dramatic pairings
• Yarrow (Achillea) – fine-textured foliage and long bloom time
• Coneflowers (Echinacea)
• Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) – silvery contrast to green stalks
• Columbine (Aquilegia) – blooms just before most alliums
• Ornamental grasses – highlight tall bloom spikes