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Characteristics of Allium
Allium senescens – the ornamental onion with a future
Another plant that very quickly caught our attention is Allium, or ornamental onion — more specifically the Allium senescens group. Unlike the classic ornamental onions from the traditional bulb assortment, these Alliums are not bulb-forming, but strong, perennial plants that return reliably year after year.
Their advantages are numerous. Allium senescens is exceptionally drought tolerant, requires very little maintenance, and flowers long and abundantly in summer — exactly when many other Alliums have already finished blooming. While bulb-forming ornamental onions mainly provide colour in spring, Allium senescens adds structure and flowering well into the season.
In addition, this plant has outstanding ecological value. Its flowers are a true magnet for honeybees and butterflies, actively contributing to garden biodiversity.
Wow — what a pollinator powerhouse!
Thanks to its natural appearance and strong character, Allium senescens fits perfectly into sunny borders, prairie-style gardens, climate-resilient plantings, and even containers.
Practical: Allium senescens in the garden
Growing position
Sunny to lightly shaded. Allium senescens thrives in warmth and open, airy conditions.
Soil
Well-drained. Dry to moderately moist soil is ideal; waterlogged conditions should be avoided.
Maintenance
Very low maintenance. Removing spent flowers prolongs the flowering period. After flowering, the attractive foliage remains decorative for a long time.
Flowering
Summer flowering, often from June to August (and sometimes longer).
Winter hardiness
Fully hardy in our climate. Plants reliably reshoot each spring.
Applications
Ideal for sunny borders, prairie gardens, naturalistic plantings, climate-adaptive gardens, and containers.
And the classic bulb Alliums?
The well-known bulb-forming Alliums — beloved for their spectacular spring display — are not part of our permanent assortment, but are available during our autumn bulb days, as well as in pots in spring. This allows us to combine the best of both worlds: spring impact and summer flowering.