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Allium 101
Are you searching for the perfect flower and getting ready for your next planned event or wedding? Sometimes there is no right or wrong flower but a matter preference as to what fits your needs or what fits your personality. The 101 series is a series of articles helping to educate everyone with the contrasts of various flowers. You may want to read the others in this series as well as many other helpful articles.
There are four basic things to remember about allium:
- Alliums are clusters of small, star-shaped blossoms. The blossoms can be compact, forming a round, globelike cluster such as seen in the popular giganteum variety. This variety can reach four to six feet in height. Alliums can also be small, loose sprays of blossoms.
- A fresh allium should have one-third to one-half its blossoms open.
- Older allium flowers have most of their blossoms open, with some dried out. The onion odor may be more noticeable.
- The small white spray known as Allium neopolitanum is the only variety with a sweet, pleasant scent. This variety makes an excellent cut flower for arrangements.
Here are some additional facts about allium:
Names – Allium, ornamental onion flower
Varieties – There are over 400 varieties of alliums. Alliums are composed of many star-shaped blossoms, which may be compact to form a round cluster, or loose sprays of blossoms.
Colors – Most alliums come in shades of purple, but some varieties are available in white, pink, or yellow.
Scent – Slight onion scent, becoming noticeable when the flowers are bruised, damaged, or aging.
Freshness – Alliums should have one-third to one-half of their blossoms open.
Vase Life – 10 days up to 3 weeks. Change the water frequently to prevent odor from developing.
Availability – Late spring through summer.
Cost – The giganteum variety—expensive. Other varieties—inexpensive to moderately priced.
Meaning – European folklore ascribed magical properties to the ornamental onion. The plant was used for good luck and protection against demons.
Arranging Tip – Be careful not to bruise the flowers when arranging, as this will release the onion odor.
Growing Tip – Alliums are very easy to grow, multiplying rapidly. They do well in poor or dry soil, and in full sun or shade. The flowers can last up to a month in the garden. Plant the tall, big-blossomed varieties in an area protected from wind, since the stems break easily.
Here are some specific varieties you may be interested in:
If you are looking for more information, or are looking for flowers for your next wedding and planned event, the people of Whole Blossoms Wholesale Flowers would love to help you. We have a large variety of flowers at wholesale prices, plus so much more. Please visit our website at www.wholeblossoms.com