Spring is for more than just daffodils and tulips

In late spring, ‘Jeannine’ golden onion (USDA Hardiness Zones 3–9) emerges, growing a scant foot tall. It has two stems of individual, star-shaped, golden yellow flowers forming a circular floret. I love ‘Jeannine’ for the ease with which its soft, straplike, blue-green leaves tuck between the wonderful blue flowers of late spring to early summer. To get any kind of display, plant at least a dozen bulbs. ‘Jeannine’ multiplies continuously and, in a few years, will put on quite a show. If you love large drifts of golden daffodils, you will be equally impressed with this small golden treasure.

After viewing this average-size garden gem, moving on to something that looks like a giant lollipop on a stick is a shocker. Giant onion (Zones 5–9) is all that its name implies, peeking out in late spring and growing up tall and bold. The 4-inch-diameter flower is a pretty shade of lilac, but the large leaves are troublesome, turning yellow even before full flowering is complete. If this plant is not placed in the back of a border, it will need a hardy perennial to cover its dying foliage. Giant onion’s flowers are long blooming and are excellent to use as cut flowers. When planting, leave plenty of room for these large bulbs to grow.

In late spring, the short, squat Turkestan onion (Zones 5–9) flowers. This is my kind of plant, standing a mere 1 foot tall. The thick leaves on this onion are a showy gray-green mottled with shades of purple and a sort of reddish edge. The long-blooming flower is a pale silver-lavender. Even after flowering, do not remove the spent flower because it dries well. During a previous year, I spray-painted one to make a fairy wand for my daughter’s Halloween costume. For those who dare to be different, try spray painting them in your garden; it creates a funky effect. Plant Turkestan onion in groups of three or five for maximum impact. It looks great with ‘Caradonna’ blue sage (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, Zones 5–9) in the background—a dramatic combo.

A handsome plant that has been grown since Victorian times is tumbleweed onion (Zones 4–9). The flowers are rose purple and begin to form on short stems. The infertile flowers shoot out, giving the effect of fireworks. Tumbleweed onion has an open, airy look rather than a compact head. The leaves go fast after flowering, but the seed head will look good for a while. It will eventually drop off and begin to roll around the garden, just like a tumbleweed in the Old West.

Waterwise bulbs keep summer rolling

Summer-flowering alliums display quite a bit of diversity. Nodding onion (Zones 4–8) is a northeastern native bulb. Light pink and dainty, it gets its common name because its flowers hang down. Nodding onion starts flowering in early summer and has a long bloom period. Because this allium stands only 18 inches tall, it easily tucks in between spring- and summer-flowering perennials. For those who have never grown this bulb, be aware that it always nods. This does not mean it needs water.

One of the colors that people love in perennial borders is blue. Blue globe onion (Zones 4–10) is an exceptional combination of dark and light blues melded together. The spherelike flowers reach 24 inches tall and work well for cut arrangements. Pair this variety with ‘Becky’ Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Becky’, Zones 5–8) or ‘Silver Moon’ Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis ‘Silver Moon’, Zones 5–9), both of which have daisylike white flowers that are a great color contrast. This bulb loves to grow hot and dry, so avoid sprinkler systems that keep the soil moist.

Fall is for flowers, and alliums are no exception. ‘Ozawa’ Japanese onion (Zones 4–9) starts to bloom in September, when most plants are winding down (but it sometimes goes to frost in my cold Zone 6). The good news is that because it blooms so late, the shiny, narrow foliage never looks bad. The starlike purple flowers give the illusion of being large on such a small plant. Combine it with any of the white asters or mums available at this time of year.

If this article, with all of its offerings of colorful alliums from spring to fall, has not made you into an “alliophile,” then I just have to remind you: If you want to keep deer out, this is the bulb for you. Your garden will be beautiful and deer-free all season.