Bulbs
Autumn is a perfect meter to reflect back upon your garden . I often find myself critique and intrigue on young plant pairings , area that need to be edit or a office that needs a punch . Luckily , fall is a time of the yr where a slight turn of employment and planning will give dividend next springiness and summer .
A plant that I have fallen in love with over the past few years is the Drumstick Allium . This bulbous perennial is a striking addition to a recurrent border , cutting gardenor a natural spring bulb planter . If you are familiar with using large globe - likealliumsin your garden , this industrial plant requires the same world-wide growing conditions : full to part sun and a well - enfeeble soil . But where this striking perennial differs from its much enceinte cousin is a petite , slender shape and a size that pair well with a host of perennial .
The drumstick allium is grace with an eggs - sized burgundy blossom atop a stick - straight , slender 2 - 3 ’ stock . The inconspicuous bud emerges in mid - May , comply by a cryptic dark-green flower that over a workweek ’s prison term convert to a rosy - burgundy blossom that the honeybees adore . The tear - mold bloom endure through June and July in the Midwest .
I pair this ornamental onion ( or leek depending on whom you inquire ) with perennials that it can get up above to sum up an extra dimension of colour and texture to the garden . The rosy - burgundy of the genus Allium complements the blue - purple efflorescence of perennial like ‘ Walker ’s Low ’ catmint and ‘ Havana Blue ’ geranium . I have also found that it looks great with the chartreuse color of freshly emerging Amsoina hubirchtii . Because the genus Allium has such a splendid stature , it is best when planted to have a setting of a taller perennial or hedge behind it to assist enhance its beauty . On that note , I would also recommend establish in a volume or a grouping of 10 to 15 for the most dramatic issue .
Planting is in truth a gentle wind for this bulb that has or so the diam of a quarter . I but dig a 1 ’ x 1 ’ pickle 3 - 4 ” cryptic and add 10 of the bulbs , cover and repeat . Could not be any easier . I mostly plant my bulbs from the death of September to the hebdomad of Thanksgiving . If you are like me and have cervid around every recession , this light bulb is perfect because cervid are deterred by the odour of onion and Allium sativum .
Planting is simple for this bulb that is roughly the size of a quarter . To check more about how to establish bulbs , seePlanting and Storing Bulbs
Because of the drumstick allium ’s long , straight stems , it defecate a perfect cut heyday by itself or in combination with garden roses or dahlias — either way it looks great .
In comparability to other bulbs , Allium sphaerocephalonis very cheap and I truly plant them by the thousand . I could not recommend it enough for a garden that ask a punch of colour and texture next springiness and for year to come .
Drumstick genus Allium are a dramatic summation to a perennial border , cutting garden or a outflow light bulb plantation owner . This genus Allium is also a favorite of many flower store such as Mary Ernst McColgan from Rose Bredl efflorescence in Columbus , OH .
