Allium flower bulbs

Alliums are commonly called ornamental onions. They display such dazzling colours and exquisite beauty that they can prove invaluable for the gardens throughout the year. These ‘minor’ bulbs are very easy to cultivate and look after. In addition, they exhibit their blooms in gardens and pots for several months including summer and autumn season when most other bulbs are in resting stage.

There are about 700 species of perennial and biennial bulbous plants, most of which produce the characteristics smell of onion when crushed. These are hardy plants and their bulbs can be left in the soil for next year’s growth. The Latin word Allium is the classic name for garlic. The term ‘Allium’ has been derived from Celtic word ‘all’ meaning pungent or hot. It belongs to family Liliaceae (Alliaceae). The genus is native to northern hemisphere, especially Central Asia. Allium species are mostly found in dry and rocky areas around Mediterranean temperate zones. Bulbs can be solitary or clustered, covered with papery or fibrous tunic. Plant height varies between 25-30 cm for dwarf and 100- 150 cm for tall species. Stems are straight, tubular, and unbranched. They bear few to many flowers clustered in spherical flowerheads called umbels. Umbels have various colours like white, rose, yellow, pink or violet and shapes like star- shaped, cup- shaped, hemispherical and pendulous. Leaves are hollow, linear, cylindrical or flat and green in colour.

Use: The dwarf species of Alliums (up to 20 cm) flourish well in pot culture, rock gardens, lawns and terraces. e.g. A. carinatum ssp. pulchellum, A.flavum, A.caesium.

The longer stemmed varieties possess such attractive colours & exotic styles that they enhance the beauty of any gardens. They are often planted for herbaceous border. The large flowerheads of many species are ideal for drying. They should be cut when their stalks are ripe. e.g. A.aflatunense & A. sphaerocephalon.

Inflorescence of some species are excellent for cutting, e.g. A. giganteum, A.moly, A.rosenbachianum, A.stipitatum, the huge ‘Globe Master’ and the sweetly scented A. subhirsutum, A.schubertii is an exceptionally beautiful species from Central Asia whose tender inflorescence is 20 cm or more in diameter.

Alliums also include various edible species like A.cepa (onion), A.sativum (garlic), A.porrum (the leek) and A.schoenoprasum (chives). Fresh leaves as well as dry bulbs of onion are consumed as or with vegetables. Garlic is used world wide as spice for culinary purposes. Onion, garlic & some other Allium spp. also have medicinal value. Garlic has been used to treat several human ailments like cold, cough, gastric problems, joint pains etc. Health benefits & pungency in Allium spp. are related to the presence of Sulphur compounds in them.