Allium Flowers

Allium Flowers For Sale

Name : Allium Flowers
Latin Name : Genius: Allium, (Allium hollandicum)
Allium Description

Allium or the onion genus has around 600-750 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. Alliums originate from Central Asia. The genus Allium was initially classified in family Alliaceae but Alliaceae is now the subfamily Allioideae of the family Amaryllidaceae. Planting Alliums as ornamental plants is a recent phenomenon, starting from 1850’s.

Common names for the garden varieties include Purple Sensation, Common Chive, Ornamental onions, Blue Globe Onion, Nodding Wild Onion, Lily Leek, Lucy Ball and so on.

Allium blossoms form an eye-catching umbel at the top of a leafless stalk. The leaves are strappy and undistinguished and the flower stalks are straight and tubular. The flowers appear in round pom-pom form, but they can also be star shaped, cup-shaped, semi-circular or pendulous depending on the variety planted.

Since they belong to the onion family, Alliums give off only a slight aroma when the stems are cut or crushed. Allium flower heads vary greatly in size, ranging from an inch to a foot, depending on the variety grown. Hence there are a lot of options to choose from when landscaping with Alliums.

Allium flowers usually appear in summer and autumn. One reason to include Allium in your garden is that they're known to attract butterflies and resist deer, mice and chipmunks. When the flowers bloom, they offer dramatic splashes of colour in the garden.

Most Alliums propagate by forming little bulbs or offsets around the old one, as well as by seed. New bulbs should be planted in fall. While division is more successful after flowers appear. Alliums do not repeat bloom and flower heads can be left on the plant to dry. The dried seed heads look attractive in the garden, adding colour and interesting texture over a prolonged period of time.

Allium varieties grow best in average to rich, well-drained soil in full sun while some varieties need excellent drainage and dry conditions after flowering

Allium hollandicum, which is commonly known as the Purple Sensation is one of the most popular species of ornamental bulbous plants. Other garden varieties of Allium include Allium schoenoprasum (Common Chives), Allium caeruleum (Blue Globe Onion) and Allium giganteum (Giant Flowering Onion) which are commonly used as border plants due to their height.

Allium flowers are grown in a number of colours such as purple, pink, green and white.

Alliums make excellent cut flowers. Alliums can be used for dry as well as fresh flower arrangements. Alliums can add height and brilliant colour to an arrangement. If cut early, Allium flowers last up to about three weeks in water.

Allium Meaning

Allium is considered to be a symbol of Unity, Humility and Patience. Presenting someone with an Allium can also mean “You're Perfect & Elegant”.

Allium Mythology

Onions were used extensively by the ancient Egyptians; one can find them in ancient drawings and inscriptions on their monuments. The Egyptians regarded their spherical bulb to be a symbol of the Universe.

Alliums or Onions are among the world's oldest cultivated plants, known in India, China, and the Middle East before recorded history.

Allium giganteum derives its name from the Greek word “Gigantes”. In Greek mythology giants were so powerful they once laid siege to heaven. Zeus drove them off with lightning bolts, and Hercules fought the surviving stray giants and clubbed them to death. Allium giganteum is one of the tallest varieties of the genus, hence it’s named after the Greek giants.