Blooming in late spring to early summer, this Giant Allium enjoys long-lasting blooms and remains ornamental in the garden well into summer. Ornamental Bulbs Giant Allium (Allium giganteum) Now available—while supplies last. Bees love it. Follow these up with a gorgeous display of Allium bulgaricum and Allium giganteum. Description Giant Allium, or ornamental onion as it is often called, is related to the garden onions, garlic and leeks. Heights also vary, with some flower stalks as short as 5 inches and others as tall as 4 feet. Relatives of the edible onion, peerless as cut flowers (fresh or dried), useful in borders; smaller kinds are effective in rock gardens. "Allium 'Ivory Queen' is a nice dwarf variety that blooms in early summer. Allium vegetables contain many potent natural substances that are good for your heart, your cells, and your immune system. Another late-bloomer that flowers in autumn. An allium flower head is a cluster of individual florets. A. cristophii, commonly known as star of Persia, is the parent of several ornamental allium favorites. Allium giganteum, commonly called giant onion, is perhaps the tallest of the ornamental onions. Also, Allium vegetables are tasty (a little too tasty, some might say). And they’re one of the most affordable and nutritious ways to add flavor and aroma to almost any dish. Also known as an ornamental onion, this large variety grows 3-5 feet tall and spreads 1.5 to 2 feet. Among the last of the perennials to bloom, its flowers often don't open until late September or October. The large A. giganteum, aka giant allium, grows up to four feet tall with six to eight-inch purple blooms. Since I’m sure we’re all familiar with the more traditional alliums—garlic, onions and chives—let’s dig a little deeper into this fabulous ornamental and edible genus. It is a bulbous perennial (large bulbs to 2-3” diameter) which produces a basal rosette of grayish-green, strap-shaped leaves (to 18” long). The overall shape may be round, oval or cascading, and the flower color may be white, yellow, pink, purple or blue. Each type of allium adds its own distinctive style and personality to the garden. Perhaps the tallest of the ornamental onions, Allium giganteum is a striking and bold addition to the garden with its star-shaped, tiny lilac-purple flowers forming a 5-6 in. The author gives perspective to Allium giganteum. At SummerWinds Nursery, we sell a variety of bulb sets—from ornamental to edible. Allium giganteum is a plant of semi-arid areas, and can tolerate cold winters with temperatures going below zero - at least down to -5°c without protection in our winter-wet garden in Cornwall, England. Allium 'Millenium' produces large chive-like blooms in mid to late summer that make great additions to cut flower bouquets. It is grown for the dense clusters of flowers, which look like lollipops. 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