Alliums

Allium: These stalwarts of our Garden bloom from spring to midsummer. The genus name 'Allium' comes from the Latin word for garlic. Perhaps the most impressive is Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' which is planted under the magnificent yellow-flowering Laburnum x wateri 'Vossii' in the Laburnum Walk. All allium bulbs are can be eaten by humans (poisonous to dogs and cats, however), but the ornamental ones are not as tasty as their onion relatives grown for food. Some of ornamental alliums produce seed heads after flowering which continue to provide interest in the summer garden. Other varieties grown in the Garden include Allium 'Millenium', Allium giganteum, Allium sphaerocephalon, Allium atropurpureum, Allium caeruleum, Allium cernum, Allium christophii, Allium 'Globemaster', Allium 'Mount Everest', Allium tuberosum, and Allium vineale 'Hair'. [Erica's Notes]