SEPTEMBER EXTRA 2019 birdsandblooms.com 13
10 Blueglobeonion
ALLIUMCAERULEUM,
ZONES 4 TO 8
Trytorememberwhere
you’veplantedblueglobe
onion.Slenderleaves
clingingtowirystems
mayresemblegrasses
orgardenchivesuntil
they’vefullymatured.
The1-inch-wideumbels
opentorevealasurprise
bouquetofcornflower
blueflorets.
Whyweloveit:
Thatcoolbluecolor!And
butterfliesloveit,too.9 Drumstick
ALLIUM SPHAEROCEPHALON, ZONES 4 TO 8
It’s hard to say just how the drumstick
allium got its common name— it does
not really resemble either a chicken
drumstick or the instrument used for
drumming. This early summer bloomer
may resemble a slender grass until the
1-inch-wide, egg-shaped composite
flowers start blooming in midsummer.
Why we love it: The clusters look like
hefty and colorful clovers, with bicolor
florets that change from green to purple.10
9
Deb Wiley gardens in Des
Moines, Iowa, where her
favorite ornamental onion
is the fireworks allium.
She keeps the dried flower
heads in arrangements
on her porch.EASY GOING
Simple tips for alliums.• (^) Grow in full sun for bigger
blooms, stronger stems and
more reliable flowers.
• (^) Plant in well-draining soil
to avoid bulb rot.
• (^) After flowering, keep foliage
intact to allow the bulb to
recharge for next season.