Onion

Allium | Also known as: Allium | Rating: 3 votes | Print / Pdf

The only tears you’ll be shedding over this onion are tears of joy over the beauty it brings to your flowerbeds!

Alliums are plants of the onion family. It's easy to forget that the humble onion is more than just a vegetable, it is also a very attractive plant. There are many varieties, but their common feature is their beautiful flowers. Pom-pom heads on tall stalks, they are perfect for adding height to flower beds. The flowers are also generally pretty long lasting so you'll get to appreciate them for longer than some other flowering plants. Alliums are often purple flowered but there are other colours too. There are different sized plants and flower heads, all of which will look striking in your garden.

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Plant
Known dangers?
  • yes
Dangers: comments
  • Skin reaction possible if you handle bulbs.
Height [m]
  • 1 - 1.5
Spread [m]
  • 1.2
Dominant flower colour
  • Varies
Flower Fragrance
  • No, neutral please
Flowering seasons
  • Late spring
Foliage in spring
  • Green
Foliage in summer
  • Green
Foliage in Autumn
  • Green
Propagation methods
  • seed
Environment
Acidity
  • Acidic
  • Neutral
  • Alkaline
Hardiness zone
  • Varies
Heat zone
  • Varies
Moisture
  • well-drained
  • well-drained but frequently watered
Soil type
  • sandy
  • Clay
  • chalky
  • loams
Sun requirements
  • Full sun
Exposure
  • Sheltered
Usage
Standard category
  • Flowers & bulbs
  • Bulbs
Grown for
  • Attractive flowers and Culinary use
Creative category
  • For Beginners
  • Colours
Garden spaces
  • Flower beds
  • Cut flowers
  • Borders
Gardening expertise
  • beginner
Time to reach full size
  • 2 to 5 years
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