Amazing Alliums.....

Allium schubertii

This is just a quick pre weekend post to share some of my favourite flowers with you…..Alliums – Allium schubertii is near the top of my list, it always reminds me of a firework! With wonderful pink, spiky, sweet-scented flowers. Its is beautiful whilst in flower and as stunning when its dried. After flowering dry the flowers by gently hanging upside down until dry, you can leave them natural or spray them silver for Christmas. They are easy to grow from bulbs planted in the autumn, and the bulb flowers for years…..

Allium schubertii with Allium ‘Gladiatior’ in the background

Allium ‘Gladiator’ follows on from Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ by flowering in June & July. it is a stunning large headed allium, growing to 1m tall with the flower head between 10-15cm diameter. They make a great cut flower for vases at home, even a single flower creates a statement! They will survive as a cut flower for up to 2 weeks, but as they are part of the onion family, remember to change the water frequently and add a drop of bleach to the water to keep the ‘oniony’ smell at bay!

Allium schubertii

If you’d like these in your own garden or in a pot by your door, remember to order your bulbs around September, and plant before Christmas, these will flower in June & July year on year! Hows that for easy gardening and value for money! (expect to pay between £1-£5 per bulb depending on the variety)

General Guidelines:

Type:	Deciduous
Soil Type:	Well-drained but fertile, add grit on heavy soils
Site:	Prefers Full sun
Hardiness:	Hardy
Spacing:	Plant 15cm deep. (the distance between will vary between variety but between 20-30cm) Plant in groups of 3 or 5 for the best impact
Care tips:	Remember these perennial so plant them somewhere permanent. Removing the raggy browning foliage doesn’t seem to affect the bulbs.

The Allium family has so many beautiful flowers and with a little planning you can have some in flower from May to early August! Just a lovely thought isn’t it? I will share some more of my favourite varieties with you next week…

Have a lovely weekend, hopefully you’ll get to enjoy a little gardening to?

kind regards

kat x

p.s remember you can keep in touch with me between blog posts on Facebook and Twitter

p.p.s if you would like to share this post that would be lovely! Thanks x

{image credits – all images by Kat Weatherill – please ask permission before reusing any of these images & add a link back to this site – thank you x }