Ivydene Gardens Bulb, Corm, Rhizome and Tuber Gallery:
Bulb Index: A Page 1 from Bulb Galleries with
Extra Bulb Index: A in the table on the extreme right

Bulb, Corm, Rhizome or Tuber Name -
from 1000 Ground-cover
Plants are in brown text

Major source of honey in the UK Yes/No
Used by
HoneyBees - HB,
Short-Tongued Bumblebees - ST,
Long-Tongued Bumblebees - LT,
Solitary
Bees - SOL

Flower Colour with
Flower Thumbnail

Flowering
Months
with Link to Flower Colour Comparison Page in that month

Form Thumbnail
and

Mat,
Cushion,
Spreading,
Clump,
Stemless,
Upright
as its form

Height x Width in inches (cms) -

1 inch = 2.5 cms,

12 inches = 1 foot = 30 cms,

36 inches = 3 feet = 1 yard = 90 cms,

40 inches = 100 cms

Seed Head Thumbnail

Soil

Sun Aspect

Soil Moisture

Foliage Colour with Foliage Thumbnail

Bulb Use

Comments

Acis
"Their flowers give forth an intensely sweet perfume. Garden Culture - Any rich ordinary soil suits them to perfection, thriving equally well in either the open border or shady shrub beds. The bulbs should be planted 4 inches (10 cms) deep and 3 inches (7.5 cms) apart from August to November and need not be disturbed for several years. Propagate by offsets detached from the parent bulbs in September and October. " from The culture of bulbs, bulbous plants and tubers made plain by Sir J.L. Cotter. Published by Hutchinson & Co.

"They are excellent for cutting and make a good display either in a bed or in a thin woodland. They also do quite well in grass, which must not be mown until their leaves begin to die down.
Garden Culture - They seldom do themselves justice at their first time of flowering after being newly planted. Clumps may be left from 6 to 8 years without disturbance." from Black's Gardening Dictionary. Edited by E.T. Ellis, F.R.H.S. Second edition. Published by A. & C. Black Ltd. in 1928.

"Indoor Culture in Window-boxes - Plant in clumps during October, 3 inches (7.5 cms) deep, 2 inches (5 cms) apart. These are excellent for a site in partial shade, but will only succeed if left undisturbed for 2 or 3 years. Suitable varieties are Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' and Leucojum vernum." from Indoor Bulb Growing by Edward Pearson. Published by Latimer House Limited in 1953.

Acis autumnalis
- autumn
(Autumn Snowflake, Syn. Leucojum autumnale)

White

August, September,
October
6 petal, bell-shaped flowers in spike. Fragrant

4-6 x 4
(10-15 x 10)
Sand, Chalk. Requires excellent drainage.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Dry

Dark Green grass-like foliage, often being produced shortly after the flower spike.

Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flower. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass.

In autumn it throws up leafless stems from which it bears 2-4 bell shaped white flowers, often with red bases to them.

Acis autumnalis pulchellum -
autumn
(Leucojum autumnale oporan-themum,
Snowflake)

White

August, September,
October
6 petal, bell-shaped flowers in spike.
Fragrant

8 x 4
(20 x 10)
Requires exce-llent drainage in Sand, Chalk.
Full Sun,
Dry - Water during growing season only

Dark Green grass-like foliage being produced at the same time as the flower spike.

Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flower. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass.

Plant with 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5 cms) of soil over the tops of the bulbs towards the front of a bed in an area where they can be left undisturbed.

Acis
autumnale 'September Snow' - autumn
(Leucojum autumnale 'September Snow')

Pure White flowers on 4-8 inch stems

September,
October

6 petal, bell-shaped flowers in spike.
Fragrant

4 x 2
(10 x 5)
Requires exce-llent drainage in Sand, Chalk.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Dry

Dark Green grass-like foliage being produced at the same time as the flower spike.

Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flower. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass.

Plant with 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5 cms) of soil over the tops of the bulbs towards the front of a bed in an area where they can be left undisturbed.

Acis valentinum
- autumn
(Acis ionica,
Leucojum valentinum)

White

February, March,
April, May
6 petal, bell-shaped flowers in spike.
Fragrant

10 x 12
(25 x 30)
Requires exce-llent drainage in Sand, Chalk.
Full Sun, Part Shade.
Moist

Thin Grey-Green leaves being produced after the flower spike.

Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flow-er. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass. Coastal conditions

Grows in open, calcareous, stony and rocky places, hill slopes. Requires winter mulch to protect it from the worst of the weather.

Alliums
All Alliums have the distinctive onion smell, both in the foliage and bulb. This smell can be used to reduce aphid infestations on flowers by planting 1 each side of the infected plant with a short length of bamboo to indicate that its foliage comes from an ornamental onion rather than a blade of grass.
See Gardenia with their pages on plant combinations of Alliums with other plants.

For best effect plant Medium Allium species with smaller heads en masse and use the larger headed species as accents (speciman plants).
As a general rule the foliage will emerge first and then die down as the flower stems emerge. It is often best to plant them with other plants that will mask the unsightly foliage as it dies back.

"Alliums last well and are decorative for flower arrangements as they make a very distinctive shape in a mixed group" from A Dictionary of Cut Flowers (Flower arrangements and sketches by the author. Photography by Kenneth Welfare) by Mary Bailey. Published by Arthur Barker Limited in 1969. SBN 213 76185 8

Allium aflatunense
'Purple Sensation'
(Flowering Onion)

Rosy-Purple

May, June

Clump

36 x 18
(90 x 45)

Chalk, Sand

Full Sun

Dry

Grey-Green 4 inch wide leaves.

Associates very well with silver under-planting.
It is deer resistant, attracts butterflies, bee friendly, squirrel resistant, fragrant, use for cut flowers and dried flowers

Probably one of the best known of the drumstick alliums.

Allium altissimum
'Goliath'
(Giant Onion)

Lilac-Purple

June

72 x 36
(180 x 90)

Chalk, Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade
Moist to Dry

Fragrant sword-like leaves
 

It is an excellent cutflower and thrives in inner city environments. Attracts butterflies.

It will live for about 5 years.

Interplant with late-season bloomers to hide dying foliage.

Allium
ampelo-prasum (Elephant Garlic)

Purple to Whitish

May, June

36-72 x 6 (90-180 x 15)

Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Dark Green leaves emerge first and then die down as the flower stems emerge.

The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellant.

Allium amphibolum

Rose-Lilac

June, July

12-16 x 4 (30-40 x 10)
Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Narrow 8 inch long Dark Green

Fragrant Flowers. Attracts bees.
Cut flowers for drying.

It is a good idea to disguise the dying allium foliage in between with herbaceous perennials.

Allium amplectens (Narrowleaf Onion, Paper Onion)

White to Pinkish

March, April, May, June

8-20 x 2
(20-50 x 5)

Clay
Full Sun
Dry

2-4 narrow dark green leaves

An unusual variety for the rock garden.
In woodland.

Allium angulosum (Mouse Garlic)

Lilac-Purple or White

June, July, August
Clump. Upright Form
Cup-shaped fragrant umbels

8-18 x 12 (20-45 x 30)

Chalk, Sand. Damp meadows near rivers.
Full Sun and part shade from light woodland. Moist

12 inch long narrow deeply keeled dark green leaves

Plant with Echinops ritro, Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead', Myrtus communis and Allium tuberosum.

Native from Europe to Siberia and whole plant is edible. Pollinated by bees. Not affected by deer. Haven for butterflies. Cut flower. Suitable for container and edging

Allium azureum
(Blue of the Heavens)

Deep Blue

May, June, July

Clump

24 x 8
(60 x 20)

Chalk, Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade
Moist

Very narrow dark green leaves 10-18 inches long, which die back before flowering com-mences

Site near front of borders and in containers with silver foliage plants to show off the blue flowers. Attracts butterflies.

Suitable for a slope, is hot dry site tolerant, good for cut flowers and ok for containers. Rodent and deer resistant. Adored by bees.

Allium 'Beau Regard'
(Beau Regard Ornamental Onion)

Silver-Mauve

June, July, August

Upright Form

36 x 9-12
(90 x 23-30)

Well-drained Sand
Full Sun
Moist

12 inch long strappy dark green leaves

Flowers last for 3 weeks. Cutflower. Use in rock garden Plant among roses to deter aphids

Flowers in 8 inch diameter umbel in June-August. Mix with Siberian Iris, roses and meadow sage.

Allium
caesium (Light Blue Garlic)

Sky-Blue

June, July, August

20-24 x 4 (50-60 x 10)

Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Very narrow cylindrical dark green leaves

Good for group planting and as a cut flower.
Adored by bees, butterflies. Mass plant.

Native plants on saline soil in semi-desert. Tolerant of poor soil.

Allium carinatum
pulchellum 'Album'

(White-flowered keeled garlic)

White

July, August,
September

Clump

Bell-shaped flowers

14 x 12
(35 x 30)

Any well-drained soil
Full Sun, Part Shade
Moist

Very narrow medium green leaves

It is an excellent cut flower.

Mass plant.
Deer and rabbit resistant. Tolerates poor soil.

Looks good growing through Artemesia schmidtiana 'Nana'. Plant in containers or in drifts in the rock garden or border with Heuchera 'Dale's Strain', Sedum 'Oktoberfest' and Talinum calycinum.

Allium callimischon callimischon - autumn

White with Red stripes

September, October,
November

Umbel

6-12 x 12 (15-30 x 30)

Sand, Chalk
Full Sun
Moist and stop watering when the foliage dies down

Green cylindrical and hollow leaves

These unusual autumn flowering species are ideal on a scree or rockery in full sun. They are hardy and also make nice pot specimens in a cold greenhouse.

Native of the Pelo-ponnese. Plant at soil level and 4 inches (10 cms) apart. All Alliums have the distinctive onion smell, both in the foliage and bulb. This smell can be used to reduce aphid infestations on flowers by planting 1 each side of the infected plant.

Allium cepa
var viviparum (Egyptian Tree Onion)

Purple

June

Drumstick

18-24 x 6-9 (45-60 x 15-23)

Acidic Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Very narrow medium green leaves

Suits the border, a herb garden or in vegetable garden.

Egyptian Tree Onion. Drumstick flowers are produced in June, and these are replaced by small bulbils that can be used as a mild salad onion.

Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion, Lady's Leek)

Light Pink

June, July, August

Clump

Bell-shaped flower in cluster of Umbels

8-18 x 2
(20-45 x 5)

Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist and can tolerate drought

Green

Several linear and flat; 0.125 to 0.185 inches wide wide and 6-10 inches long; Dark Green leaves Grows in dry lightly shaded woods, rock outcroppings and prairies.

It naturalises easily making attractive drifts without becoming a nuisance. Attracts butterflies.
Cut Flower.
Grows in Scree. Use in rock garden, edgings and cottage gardens.

Allium christophii
(Star of Persia)

Purple-Metallic Blue

June, July

Erect

Star-shaped flower in umbels

24 x 8
(60 x 20)

Chalk, Sand.
Morning Full Sun, Afternoon Shade.
Moist

3-7, strap-shaped, 1 inch wide, Grey-Green leaves 20 inches long

The faded flowerheads hold up well in the border and are useful for dried flower arrangements.

Dot amongst ornamental grasses. Use on bank, in containers. It attracts butterflies. It is Deer and Rabbit resistant.

Allium cowanii

White

April, May, June

Clump.
Umbels in Sprays

24 x 4
(60 x 10)

Chalk, Sand.
Morning Full Sun, Afternoon Shade.
Moist

1 inch wide, pale green

Use flowers as edible parts of a salad. It lasts for 3 weeks as a cut-flower. Grow in densely planted borders and rock gardens, forced pots and as edging.

Rabbit, rodent and deer resistant.

Allium crenulatum
(Olympic Onion, Scalloped Onion)

Rose-Purple

May, June, July

Umbel of star-shaped flowers

3 x 4
(8 x 10)
Talus (broken rock at the base of a high place) slopes and clay soil, including serpentine (rock composed of serpentine minerals). Sand.
Full Sun
Moist

2 Grey-Green sickle shaped leaves

Grow in scree garden, rock garden, alpine trough

Plant at 2 inch (5 cms) depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 4 inches (10 cms) apart.

Allium cupanii Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes.
This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other.

Pink or nearly White

May, June, July, August, September, October

Spheres

5-10 x 4
(13-25 x 10)

Sand, Chalk, Scree which is well-drained.
Full Sun, since cannot grow in shade.
Moist (Bulb has summer dormancy, so no water in late summer)

Thread-like mid green 4 inch long leaves

Its habitat is Pinus nigra forest, amongst Quercus pargana, alpine and grey steppe rocky places on limestone, serpentine and schist, to 2200 metres in Turkey.

Edible plant with medicinal use to reduce cholerestol levels. Pollinated by bees. Repels moles. Use in pots, alpine house or greenhouse.

Allium cyaneum

(Dark Blue Garlic)

Violet-Blue

August, September,
October

Clump.
Bell-shaped flowers in Sprays

6-12 x 4
(15-30 x 10)

Sand, Chalk which is well-drained and humus-rich or woodland type. Peat.
Full Sun.
Moist

Sparse grass-like mid-Green leaves appear before and during the flowers.

Attracts bees, butterflies and birds.
Grow in rock garden as edging.
Deer proof.

Plant at 4 inches (10 cms) depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 4 inches (10 cms) apart. Never plant at perfectly measured distances apart as this looks artificial - plant in clumps of 5, 7 or 9 in a staggered group so that they look more natural when they flower.

Allium cyatho-phorum
var farreri (Flowering Onion)

Red-Purple

May, June, July

Clump.
Umbels of Bell-shaped flowers in Clusters

12-15 x 9-12 (30-43 x 23-30)

Acidic Sand, Chalk, which is well-drained.
Full Sun and tolerates Part Shade.
Moist in summer

Grassy dark green 8 inch long leaves

Use on a scree, rock garden, containers, alpine trough or edging.
Cut flower. Attracts bees.
Plant combination with
Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis',
Artemisia 'Powis Castle' or
Hyssopus officinalis 'Roseus'.

Grows on grassy slopes at high elevations in China.

Toxic to cats and dogs.
The plant goes well with
Convolvulus cneorum,
Pelargonum capitatum and
Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' .

Allium
falcifolium

(Scytheleaf Onion,
Coast Flatstem Onion,
Falcate Onion,
Sickle-leaved Onion
Sickle-headed garlic)

Pinkish, Red-Purple, or White-streaked Purple

May, June

Clump.
6 tepals instead of petals in Umbel of bell-shaped tepals.

2-3 x 6
(5-8 x 15)

Sand, Chalk, Scree.
Full Sun.
Moist - stop watering pot once leaves begin to turn brown

2 grey-green scythe-shaped leaves

It is often found on slopes with excellent drainage.
Use in pot in the alpine house or patio, or outside in scree. Edging. Attracts bees, butterflies and moths.

It is also never found too far away from oak trees, relying on the organic matter from decaying oak leaves. Use in cottage gardens, in coastal conditions, cut flower or rock garden

Allium flavum
(Small yellow Onion, Yellow-flowered allium)

Yellow

June, July, August

Clump. Umbels of fragrant Bell-shaped flowers in Plumes

14 x 2
(35 x 5)

Chalk, Sand.
Full Sun
Dry.
Grow as edging, in scree gardens, in cottage gardens.

Narrow blue-green

Pollinated by Bees. Rock Garden. Use flower-heads for drying. Rodent and deer proof. Naturalizes easily.

Best planted in clusters or allowed to self-seed, it does of its best in an open, sunny position in well-drained soil. Attracts butterflies.

Allium flavum nanum
(Yellow-flowered Garlic)

Lemon-peel Yellow

June, July, August

Clump. Fragrant Umbels of Bell-shaped flowers

4-6 x 2
(10-15 x 5)

Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Mid green cylindrical leaves

It is a good rock garden plant. Pollinated by bees. Dry flower-heads for flower arranging. Pot plant or in trough. Use as edging in Scree and Cottage Gardens

The 40 flowers on the densely clustered flower head open in succession to give a long-lasting display. Thrives in dry soil. Naturalizes. Attracts butterflies.

Allium geyeri
(Geyer Onion, Geyer's Onion, Bulbil Onion)

Pink

April, May

Bell to Urn shaped flowers.

3-12 x 2
(8-30 x 5)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Narrow dark green cylindrical leaves

Pollinated by bees. Grows by streams. Repels moles and deer. Grows well with Roses, beet and chaomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes.

Easy to grow species from the meadows of the western USA, producing small bright pink flowers.

Allium giganteum
(Giant Onion)

Violet-Mauve

June, July

Clump. Fragrant Spike of an Umbel

60 x 6
(150 x 15)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Dry

Pale Green 2 inch wide and 30 inches long leaves.

Try it dotted in small groups among ornamental grasses. Pollinated by bees. Attracts butterflies. Squirrel resistant.

A huge tall spike some 1.5m (5ft) tall bearing a very dense umbel of bright purple flower to be dried and used in dry arrangements. Border background plant.

Allium 'Gladiator'
(Flowering Onion, Gladiator Ornamental Onion)

Rose-Purple

May, June

Fragrant Globe-shaped Umbel.

68 x 12
(170 x 30)

Chalk or Sand (prefers acidic sand or sandy clay)
Full Sun
Moist

2 inch wide, Dark Green.

Use on a slope or bank.
Attracts Butterflies.
Good for Cut Flowers and as dried flowers.
Ok in Containers.
Rabbit resistant.
Speciman plant. Rock Garden

Great with Bearded or Siberian Iris. The foliage dies off as the flowers open, so companion plant with Geranium sanguineum 'Album' to conceal the dying foliage and flower at the same time.

Allium 'Globemaster'

Metallic-Violet

May, June, July

Clump. Globular Umbel of star-shaped florets

28-36 x 8 (70-90 x 20)

Chalk or prefers neutral pH Sand
Full Sun
Moist

2 inch wide, strap-shaped gray-green

It is deer and rodent resistant. Excellent cut flower - fresh or dried. Speciman plant. Attracts bees.

Well-matched with Camassia, Dutch Iris, Eremurus, Peonies (Festiva maxima, Eden's Perfume or Riches and Fame) and Ornithogalum magnum.

Allium 'Globus'
(Drumstick Onion)

Pale Mauve

June

Star-shaped flowers in pompom on a Drumstick

24 x 9-12
(60 x 23-30)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Large 2-inch wide, dark green

A good cut flower.

Pale mauve spheres on 20 inch stems in June.

Allium hirtifolium
'Album'

White

May, June

Star-shaped flowers in Pompom on a Drumstick

48 x 12
(120 x 30)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Large 2-inch wide, dark green

Speciman plant.

One of the taller species, so great for adding height to the border.

Allium 'His Excellency'

Bluish-Purple

May, June

Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on a Drumstick

36 x 12
(90 x 30)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Large 2-inch wide, dark green

Long-lasting cut flower. Mass plant in drifts with ornamental grasses and other alliums

Foliage is glossy and persists until well after flowering. Attracts bees and Butterflies. Edging for beds

Allium x hollandicum (Allium aflatunense, Persian Onion)

Purple-Lilac

May, June, July

Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on a Drumstick

30-36 x 12 (75-90 x 30)

Prefers alkaline Sand or Chalk
Full Sun
Moist

Light Green 4 inch wide, strap-like leaves, 20-24 inches in length.

Excellent cut flower - dried and fresh. Mass plant. Repels moles. Mix with Chaerophyllum hirsutum 'Roseum'.

Pale greens of Alchemilla, purples of hardy geraniums or blues in the late Camassia compl-iment their purple colours very well.

Allium jesdianum
'Akbulak'

Reddish-Purple

June, July

Star-shaped flowers in loose Umbel on a Drumstick

31 x 12
(78 x 30)
Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Moist - Drought tolerant once established

Green

An excellent cut flower. Bee friendly. Grow it between a group of the deciduous Ceratostigma willmottiana.

Grows in the dry mountainous meadows of Central Asia.

Allium jesdianum ssp
angustit-epalum
(Allium ecomutum, Ornamental Onion )

Dark Purple

May, June, July

Umbel on Drumstick

24 x 6-9
(60 x 15-23)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Linear, lanceolate, up to 2 inches wide and 20 inches long Green foliage

Neither deer nor rabbits eat them.

It dries up and retreats into dormancy immediately after flowering.

Allium jesdianum
'Michael Hoog'
(Drumstick Onion)

Bright Violet

May, June

Star-shaped flowers in a loose Umbel on a Drumstick

48 x 12
(120 x 30)

Any well drained Soil
Full Sun
Moist

Linear, lanceolate, up to 2 inches wide and 20 inches long Green foliage

Good cut flower and ideal for mass planting.

The new foliage is attractive in that the leaves all have red tips when they first emerge.

Allium jesdianum
'Purple King'
(Drumstick Onion)

Deep Purple

May, June, July

Umbel on Drumstick

28 x 12
(70 x 30)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Mid-Green strap-shaped leaves. Foliage dies off soon after bloom.

Good cut flower. It will not grow if planted after December. Plant amongst summer flowering perennials and grasses. Will naturalize.

Requires plenty of moisture when growing; tolerates growing in very wet soil. Grow with roses to repel aphids.

Allium jesdianum
'Shing'

Dark Purple

April, May

Clump-forming. Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on Drumstick

29 x 12
(73 x 30)

Any well-drained soil
Full Sun
Moist

5-6 Grey-Green strap-like leaves that persist during flowering.

Edging.

Flowers on 28 inch stems. Plant bulb at 6 inch depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 8 inches (20 cms) apart.

Allium karataviense
(Ornamental Garlic, Kara Tau garlic)

White with a
hint of Rose

May, June

Clump.
Star-shaped mild fragrant florets in Umbel on Drumstick

10 x 32
(25 x 80)

Any Soil
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist
Plant with Heuchera 'Caramel'.

Glaucous Blue, 4-6 inch wide leaves.

A very useful allium, its large glaucous foliage makes for excellent, well behaved groundcover. Cut fresh and dried flowers. Naturalize.

Silvery-white flower spikes grow up some 20cm. (8"). Deserves to be used more often. Use in window boxes, bedding and patio planters.

Allium karataviense
'Ivory Queen'
(Kara Tau garlic 'Ivory Queen')

White

May, June

Clump.
Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on Drumstick

10 x 8
(25 x 20)

Any Soil
Full Sun
Moist

Use as edging

Blue-Green, 4-6 inch wide leaves.

Makes ideal ground-cover and looks great in tubs. Looks wonderful in low glazed pots alongside pots of hostas and heucheras.

Attracts butterflies. Pollinated by Bees. Deer ignore it. Use in beds, gravel and rock gardens or cottage gardens. Mass plant.

Allium lenkoranicum
(Ornamental Onion)

Buff to Rose

June, July, August

Bell-shaped flowers in Umbel on Drumstick

14-20 x 2 (35-50 x 5)

Any well-drained Soil
Full Sun
Moist

4-5 thread-thin long Green leaves

The allium lankoranicum is best planted en masse. Cut flowers - fresh or dried

Plant bulb at 3 inch depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 1 inch apart.

Allium
'Lucy Ball'
(Ornamental Onion)

Violet-Purple

May, June, July

Erect.
Star-shaped scented florets in Umbel on Drumstick

40 x 12
(100 x 30)

Any well-drained Soil
Full Sun
Moist

Strap-shaped Grey-Green leaves

Great cut flower - either fresh or dried - and ideal for pots. Use in middle of border or rock garden. Deer, rabbit, squirrel resistant.

Mass plant with 10-15 per group. Plant bulb at 5 inch depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 4-5 inch apart in October.

Allium macleanii
(Allium elatum, Ornamental Onion)

Pinkish-Purple

May, June, July

Erect.
Star-shaped florets in Umbel on Drumstick

36-40 x 6 (90-100 x 15)

Sandy well-drained Soil
Full Sun on gentle slopes
Moist - Dislikes dry soils.

Broad, shiny, deep Green leaves

Great cut flower and ideal for pots.

Grows well with roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but inhibits the growth of legumes.

Allium macranthum

Mauve-Purple

July, August

Clump.
Bell-shaped flowers in loose umbel on Drumstick

6 x 4
(15 x 10)

Sandy Soil
Full Sun
Moist - dislikes dry soils - do not put near pond edge

Narrow, flattened, Grayish-Green channeled leaves. Almost evergreen.

Interplant with ferns both to fill the space when its below ground. Grow in rock garden. Deer resistant.

Grows in high mountain meadows and stream banks in moist soil. Its root is fleshy and almost rhizomatous.

Allium 'Mars'
(Ornamental Onion)

Lilac-Purple

May, June

Erect.
Umbel on Drumstick

48 x 4
(120 x 10)
Chalk or sand
Full Sun and Part Shade. Flowers last longer in partial shade.
Moist

Strap-shaped 2 inch wide Grey-Green

Excellent long-lasting cut-flower. Plant in Pots or drifts with ornamental grasses, as edging or in middle of bed.

Flower umbel on 36 inch stem in May-June. Seedheads look great covered in frost during the winter. Attracts bees and Butterflies

Allium maximowiczii
(Maximovich chive, Oriental Chive)

Rose-Pink and
Dark Pink

May, June, July

Umbel on Drumstick.

6 x 4
(15 x 10)

Sand or Chalk
Full Sun
Moist

1 or 2 narrow green leaves

Grows in damp meadows, along riversides, forest margins, and wetlands.

The 10.3Mb PDF of the Phanerogram Flora of Mt. Yupari, Prov. Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan provides further details of its native habitat.

Allium moly
(Golden Garlic, Sunshine Allium, Yellow Moly, Gold Allium, Lily Leek, Yellow Onion)

Bright Yellow

June, July

Erect.
Star-shaped florets in umbel on Cluster

8 x 4
(20 x 10)
Any Soil (Well-drained soil required). Best in rich, sandy loam.
Full Sun and Part Shade.
Moist

Strap-shaped 2 inch wide metallic Blue-Green

Excellent long-lasting cut-flower. Excellent for under planting roses. Rock garden, edging, cottage garden. Attracts butterflies

Increasing very rapidly and suitable for naturalising in open sunny places or light woodland.

Allium moly 'Jeannine'
(Golden Onion, Golden Garlic, Yellow Allium)

Golden-Yellow

May, June

Erect and Clump-forming.
Star-shaped florets

12 x 12
(30 x 30)
Any well-drained Soil
Morning Sun and Afternoon Shade
Dry

Strap-shaped 2 inch wide metallic Blue-Green

Rock garden or middle of bed and suitable for naturalising in rough ground. Attracts bees and butterflies.

Easy to establish in grass or under deciduous shrubs. Use as edging or in pot and as a groundcover.

Allium 'Mont Blanc'

Creamy-White

May, June, July

Fragrant Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on Drumstick

52 x 4
(130 x 10)

Well-drained Chalk or Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade
Moist

Strap-shaped 2 inch wide metallic Blue-Green

Excellent cut-flower. Speciman Plant. Houseplant. Deer, rabbit, squirrel resistant.

Mass plant. Naturalizes in well-drained soil. Rock Garden. Attracts butterflies. Combines well with perennials.

Allium multi-bulbosum
(Black Garlic, Broadleaf Garlic)

White with
Reddish veins

May, June, July,
August
Faintly fragrant star-shaped florets in Umbel on Dome

12-24 x 6 (30-60 x 15)

Well-drained Chalk but prefers Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves emerge in April

Excellent for naturalising and as cut flower. Deer and Rabbit resistant. Bee friendly. Grow in pots.

Goes with Allium atropurpureum, Astrantia major, Campanula Prichard's Variety, Peony Sarah Berhardt, Erysimum Bowles Mauve and Hosta El Nino

Allium neapolitanum
(Naples Garlic, Daffodil Garlic, False Garlic, Flowering Onion, Naples Onion, Guernsey Star-of-Bethlehem, Neapolitan Garlic, Star, White Garlic, Wood Garlic)

White

March, April, May

Erect.
Sweetly-scented
Star-shaped flowers in loose umbel on Drumstick

12 x 4
(30 x 10)

Any well-drained Soil
Full Sun
Moist

Strap-shaped Grey-Green leaves

An excellent variety to naturalise on the rock garden.
Deer resistant. Cut flowers. Attracts butterflies. Use Cottage gardens and as groundcover. Pot plant in greenhouse.

This edible, erect-habit, bulb is native to Northern Italy and frequently found growing in grassy areas.
It is classed as an invasive species in parts of the U.S.A. Combines with pink Geraniums or purple Irises.

Allium nevskianum

Reddish

May, June

Star-shaped flowers in globe

12 x 15
(30 x 38)

Any well-drained Soil
Full Sun
Dry

2 attractive blue-grey wide leaves are held at ground level and last through flowering.

Suitable under glass in an Alpine House in a pot. Bees love it. Rodents and deer resistant. Groundcover. Coastal conditions.

Partners are Allium Purple Sensation, Allium sphaerocephalon, Allium gladiator, Allium Silver Spring and Allium Mount Everest.

Allium nigrum
(Black Garlic, Broad-leaved Onion)

White with
Green midribs

April, May, June
Upright and Clump.
6 petalled Star-shape flowers in umbel

20-40 x 16 (50-100 x 40)

Any well-drained Soil
Full Sun
Dry

Strap-shaped Grey-Green leaves which start to die back when the flowers emerge.

Allium companions are Allium 'Forelock', Allium ascherso-nianum and Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation'.

Good Cut flower.

There is a pink form of Allium nigrum (Syn. Allium auctum).

Allium nutans
(Nodding Onion, Siberian Garlic Chive, Mangyr, Blue Chives)

Mid-Pink

June, July

Upright Star-shaped flowers in umbel on drumstick

18-36 x 9-12 (45-90 x 23-30)

Any well-drained Soil
Full Sun
Moist

Extra wide flat mid-green

The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles. Liked by Bees and Butterflies. Grow in Pot.

Native habitat of stony slopes and meadows on the steppes of central asia. Meadows and damp places in Tibet.

Allium obliquum
(Twistedleaf Garlic, Lopsided Onion)

Pale Yellowish-Green

March, April,
May, June, July
Clump. Star-shaped flowers in pompom on Drumstick

18-36 x 12 (45-90 x 30)
Acidic Sandy well-drained Soil and can grow in heavy Clay soil.
Full Sun
Moist

The flower stem is sheathed with 6-10 long, channelled green leaves

The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles. Cut flower - dried and fresh. Naturalise. Pair with a dark background.

All parts are edible - the bulb is used as a garlic substitute in Siberia. Grows in meadows and on wooded slopes.

Alium paradoxum
ssp normale
(Allium paradoxum,
Scilla paradoxa)

White

March, April

Bell-shaped flowers in umbel

14 x 12
(35 x 30)

Clay
Part Shade
Moist

Shiny wide green foliage

Plant in pot. Grows in deciduous woodland and can smother native bluebells and snowdrops.

Self-sows in mild-winter climates and an INVASIVE, species in Europe. Destroy after use and put in rubbish, but not compost bin.

Allium plummerae
(Tanners Canyon Onion, Plummer's Onion)

Icing Pink or White

June, July,
August, September

12 x 12
(30 x 30)

Any fertile soil
Full Sun
Moist

Upright tufts of strongly keeled grayish-green 10-20 inch long leaves

Grows in marshes, alongside streams and rocky slopes.

Noxious weed in only 46 states of USA; one of the Federal and State Noxious weeds.

Allium oreophilum
(Alpine Rosy Bells, Pink Lily Leek, Allium ostrow-skianum,
Allium platystemon)

Carmine-Pink

May, June

Upright, Clump. Sweetly-scented Star-shaped flowers in umbel on drumstick

4-6 x 8
(10-15 x 20)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun (At least all afternoon, but best if full sun in the morning as well)
Moist

Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves.

Use in borders, edgings, rock gardens and in ground covers. Use in patio pots. Deer resistant. Cut flower - dried or fresh.

Aggressive - spreads rapidly to form clumps.
Since Oreophilum is a shorter variety, it blends well with other perennials and makes an excellent addition to the border.

Allium pulchellum
(Keeled Garlic)

Reddish-Carmine

July, August

Upright, Clump.
Bell-shaped flowers in loose Umbel on drumstick

24 x 4
(60 x 10)

Chalk or Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Very narrow dark green leaves

It is an excellent cut flower. Attracts bees and butterflies. Suitable for container. Use for edging and middle of border.

Native to the Mediterranean region. Forms a good clump quickly but is not invasive. Being self-sowing, let it colonise paving cracks and foot of dry walling.

Allium ramosum
(Chinese Chives, Branchy chive (onion), Fragrant-flowered Garlic, Flowering Leek)

White

June, July

Upright, Clump.
Star-shaped flower in shuttlecock-shaped umbel on 36 inch stem of drumstick

10-20 x 6-12 (25-50 x 15-30)

Sand
Full Sun
Moist

3-7 Hot-tasting, hollow dark green leaves grow to 12 inches. They clasp the base of the flowering stem.

Attracts bees and butterflies. Suitable for containers. Grow in rock garden and edging.

'Chinese Chives'. The flower petals and foliage can be used as a garnish on salads.

Allium rosen-bachianum
(Rosenbach Onion, Showy Persian Onion)

Dark Violet

May

Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on drumstick

36 x 4
(90 x 10)

Sand, Chalk
Full Sun
Moist

Linear, lanceolate Blue-Green leaves 2 inches wide and 20 inches long

Excellent for both cut and dried bouquets. Attracts butterflies. Deer resistant.

Plant with white Mount Everest Alliums for lovely contrasting blooms. Mix with roses and perennials

Allium roseum
(Rosy Garlic)

Bright Pink

April, May, June, July

Clump. Star-shaped flowers in cluster on long stem.

6-22 x 20 (15-55 x 50)

Sand, Chalk
Full Sun
Moist - Avoid excessive moisture from late summer when they become dormant.

Strap-shaped Green leaves

Alliums prefer to be dry during their dormancy after July.

Squirrel and browsing deer resistant. Pollinated by bees. Use in rock garden, hedgerows, pots, mass plantings, middle of borders and as cut flowers.

Habitat is grassland and gravelly places near the sea. Cannot grow in shade. Companion plants to tulips. Use in Coastal conditions.

Allium 'Round
and Purple'
(Giant Allium, Drumstick Allium)

Lilac-Mauve

April, May, June, July

Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on drumstick

36-48 x 10 (90-120 x 25)

Sand, Chalk
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Green

Attracts bees and butterflies.

Good in containers and excellent cut flower. Back of border, cut flower - fresh and dried, edging and middle of border

Allium 'Giganteum, Allium 'Globemaster' and Eremus (foxtail lilies) together produce a magnificient flower display.

Allium saxatile (Stone Leek, Rock Onion)

Mid-Pink through
to White

July, August,
September

Clump.
Umbel
 

4-14 x 2 (10-35 x 5)

Sand, Chalk, Scree
Full Sun
Dry

Very narrow channeled Green leaves as shown in Specimen from Caucasus.

Ideal for Alpine Gardens and in a Trough. Use in Rock garden and Scree garden.

Native habitat is rocks and stony slopes, 225-460 m.

Allium schoeno-prasum
(Chives)

Lilac or Pale Purple

May, June, July, August

Clump.
Star-shaped flowers in umbel as cluster

4-18 x 12
(10-45 x 30)

Prefers acidic well-drained Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Blue-Green, 4-6 inch wide leaves spreading over ground. Foliage smell repels aphids.

Woodland garden, sunny edgings, hedgerows, rock garden. Pollinated by bees for its high production of nectar. Mass plant. Use in pot and windowbox.

In cold regions, chives die back to the underground bulbs in winter, with the new edible leaves appearing in early spring in cottage garden. Grows on the rocks (scree).

Allium schoeno-prasum
albiflorum
(White Chives)

White

May, June, July, August

Clump.
Umbel

10 x 10
(25 x 25)
Any well-drained soil - prefers acidic.
Full Sun
Moist

Hollow and tubular, up to 24 inches long and 0.1 inches in diameter, Dark Green

Cut Flower, edging, cottage and vegetable gardens and patio pots. Adored by bees and butterflies.
Mix with roses and deciduous shrubs.

The best way to harvest and maintain a fresh supply of chive leaves is to cut them to about 1 inch (2.5 cms) above the ground 4 times a year.

Allium schoen-oprasum
'Forescate'
(Forescate Chives)

Purplish-Pink

May, June, July

Clump.
Umbel

12 x 4
(30 x 10)

Any well-drained soil - prefers acidic.
Full Sun
Dry

Hollow and tubular, up to 24 inches long and 0.1 inches in diameter, Dark Green

Cut flower - fresh or dried. Grow in mixed containers and herb garden. Attreacts butterflies. Mass plant. Use as edging. Deer Resistant.

Chives are grown for their edible leaves in Woodland garden sunny edges, hedgerows and use these 3 chives mixed in an edging to a bed.

Allium schubertii
(Sparkler alliums)

Pink and Silver

April, May, June, July

Fragrant Star-shaped flowers in loose Umbel on Drumstick

12-24 x 8 (30-60 x 20)

Chalk or Acidic Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Pale Green 2 inch wide and 30 inches long leaves.

This is perfect for front of borders or large pots and containers. Pollinated by bees, attracts butterflies. Cut flower - dried and fresh.

This bears the largest flowers of all of the allium family. Dot between grasses. Deer and squirrel resistant

Allium scoro-doprasum
(Sand Leek, Rocambole)

Lilac to Purplish

May, June, July, August

6 sepal flowers in a globular cluster on a drumstick with onion-like aroma

16-36 x 4
(40-90 x 10)

Well-drained Chalk or Sand . Native habitat of grassland and scrub on dry soils.
Full Sun
Dry

Mid Green

Coastal conditions. Sandy river banks and in open damp broad-leaved woodland, forest margin, shores, hillside meadows and hedgerows.

A bulbous, perennial herb spreading mainly by bulbils in rough grassland and waste ground, on road verges and track sides and by railways.

Allium
sphaero-cephalum
(Allium sphaero-cephalon, Ball-Headed Onion, The Drumstick Allium, Drumsticks, Round-headed Leek)

Purple-Crimson

May, June, July, August

Clump. Unfragrant, deep green changing to rose purple flowers on 2 inch diameter umbel on 36 inch high stems

24 x 8
(60 x 20)

Well-drained Sand, Chalk
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist (appreciates summer moisture)

Cyclindrical, hollow, 24 inches long Mid-Green leaves form a foliage clump in spring.

Very effective when massed in tight clumps in a sunny border. Suitable for a gravel garden and is deerproof. Attracts butterflies. Rock garden, Cottage Garden, open woodland area and meadows.

Looks superb growing through Artemisia 'Powys Castle' or other silver foliage. Since it self-seeds, it will naturalize an area. Grows in containers including windowboxes. Cut flower - fresh or dried. Grow with yellow daylilies and contrasts well with red penstemons.

Allium
stipitatum
(Persian Onion, Persian Shallot)

Lilac-Purple

May, June

Star-shape flowers of 6 tepals in an umbel on a drumstick -

These flowers can be left on the plant for many months.

48 x 10
(120 x 25)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves.

Excellent cut-flower (cut flowers last as long as 3 weeks). Good as a dried flower. Plants grow on rocky slopes and in fields, so grow in gravel garden and pots including Alpine Trough.

Plant with Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing', Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Black Barlow', Artemesia ludoviviciana 'Valerie Finnis' and Deschampsia cespitosa.

Allium
stipitatum
'Album'
(Ornamental Onion)

White

May, June

Clump.
Star-shape flowers of 6 tepals in an umbel on a drumstick - These flowers can be left on the plant for many months.

36 x 12
(90 x 30)

Well-drained Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves.

Can be grown in pots. Excellent cut-flower. Grow in gravel garden, pots and Alpine Trough. Use for height in middle of border and as a speciman there.

Plant with blue-flowering geraniums and Alchemilla mollis.

The bulbs are eaten as shallots in Iran.

Allium
stipitatum
'Mount Everest'
(Persian Onion)

White

June

Clump.
Star-shape flowers of 6 tepals in an umbel on a These flowers can be left on the plant for many months.

48 x 4
(120 x 10)

Well-drained soil Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves.

Excellent cut-flower (cut flowers last as long as 3 weeks), use fresh or dried. Naturalizes easily. Attracts butterflies. Deer repellant.
Use in cottage gardens.
 

Drought tolerant. Spectacular in large sweeping drifts - plant in groups of at least 10-15 bulbs. Use in gravel garden to bridge the gap between the tulip season and early summer bloom of peonies and poppies.

Allium triquetrum
(Three Cornered Garlic, Stinking Onions, White flowered onion, in New Zealand it is known as onion weed)

White with
Green midvein

April, May, June

Drooping one-sided umbel.

Never plant this without knowing how invasive it is.

18 x 8
(45 x 20)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Basal, linear, 10-15 inches long and 1.5 inches wide Dark Green leaves.

Excellent as ground cover in poor well-drained soil in sun or shade where it will keep weeds under check, but keep it away from mixed borders. Can be used along the bottom of hedgebanks.

Do not use in USA
Thrives well in shade - full shade of deep woodland and part shade of light woodland. All parts of the plant are edible.

Best to use in a pot in the UK because it will invade.

Allium unifolium
(One-leaf Allium, One leaf Onion, American Onion, Naples Garlic, Daffodil Garlic, Flowering Onion.)

Pink

April, May, June

Clump.
Bell-shaped flowers in 2 inch hemisphere on 6 inch stem

8-24 x 12 (20-60 x 30)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand, but prefers Clay
Full Sun
Moist

Grey-Green leaves emerge first and then die down before the flowers open.

It's the perfect choice for growing in alpine beds or at the front of a sunny border.
Attracts bees and butterflies with its nectar/pollen rich flowers.

Grows in moist grasslands along forested and chaparral areas along the coastal ranges.
It also works well in pots.
Toxic to cats, dogs and horses.

Allium ursinum (Wild Garlic, Bear Garlic, ramsons, buckrams, wild garlic, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek, or bear's garlic)

White

May, June

Strong garlic odour in 6 tepal, star-shaped flowers in umbel on drumstick

12 x 12
(30 x 30)
Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade (Thrives well in shade of woodland)
Moist - likes summer moisture

Basal, linear, 10-15 inches long and 1.5 inches wide Dark Green leaves emerge in the Spring before the flowers.

Grows in deciduous woodlands with, in the UK, bluebells. Groundcover only in woodland. Add sand to clay soils as needed to improve drainage.

Foliage dies down in June.
Naturalizes well even in quite dense shade. Grow with roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. Edible leaves.

Allium vineale 'Hair'

Green hair-like petals

June, July, August
Long Green hair-like petals and Purple in the middle of the flower umbel

30 x 4
(75 x 10)
Well-drained acidic soil, Clay, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

It produces its slender grass by October, and persists until after the late spring bloom before dying back for a while in summer.

Use as upper storey in a flower arrangement. It lasts for 2 weeks as a cut-flower.

Plant with more sedate alliums, lilies or irises.

Rabbit, rodent and deer resistant.

Naturalizes easily - this one grows hair-like new bulbil plants from the flowerhead (every bulbil that drops will turn into a new plant)
 

Allium wallichii
(Jimbu, Dzimbu)

Rose-Purple with
Green middle

July, August,
September

Clump.
Star-shaped flowers in loose umbel

6-30 x 4
(15-75 x 10)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist - since it is fully open to the monsoon rains the flower stem is strongly built!

0.25-0.8 inches wide and 8-20 inches long, keeled, dark Green

Provides a welcome splash of colour in the autumn border and cut flowers. Use for edging and middle of border.

These plants can be allowed to self-seed to make impressive clumps. Edible flowers and cooked leaves. It's native habitat is forest margins, scrub, moist meadows and stream banks

Allium zebdanense

White

April, May, June

Clump.
Umbel on Drumstick

8-24 x 12
(20-60 x 30)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade
Dry (Needs very dry soil in summer when plant is dormant)

Grows slowly into dense carex-like dark Green clumps. After flowering foliage becomes dormant.

Unparalled for the dry shady garden, although it will grow in Sun too. Suitable for Seaside gardens and gravel gardens.

Thrives in hot dry conditions where not much else will grow.

"Anemone coronaria or St Brigid are excellent for flower arrangements as they are colourful, long-lasting and cheap." from A Dictionary of Cut Flowers (Flower arrangements and sketches by the author. Photography by Kenneth Welfare) by Mary Bailey. Published by Arthur Barker Limited in 1969. SBN 213 76185 8.

Companion plants :-
Alyssum, Arabis, Aster alpinus, Centaurea dealbata, Coreopsis, Digitalis, Gypsophila paniculata, Hemerocallis (yellow cultivars), Iris (rhizomatous white and yellow cultivars), Kniphofia (yellow cultivars), Peonies (white and yellow cultivars), Verbascum, Rhododendron species (deciduous and evergreen), Cotoneaster, Berberis, Acer palmatum, Deutzia gracilis and Weigela.

Suitable Anemones for the Rock garden:-

• Anemone alpina
• Anemone apennina
• Anemone blanda
• Anemone coronaria
• Anemone fulgens
• Anemone hepatica
• Anemone hortensis
• Anemone narcissiflora
• Anemone nemerosa
• Anemone pratensis
• Anemone pulsatilla
• Anemone sulphurea
• Anemone sylvestris

Alpines can also have bulbs mixed with them:-

Anemone baldensis
(Monte Baldo windrose - Monte Baldo is an absolute haven for the Alpine Flora)

Creamy-White

May

Erect.
Many petalled Star-shape flower on stem

6 x 6
(15 x 15)

Chalk, Sand
Part Shade or Full Sun
Moist
 

Deeply divided Light Green

Sand and peat in part shade in Rock garden. Can be grown with green carpet rupture-wort to provide a light green back-ground for the flowers.

Should be grown in light shade where summers are hot; in full sun in cooler climates. Bold drifts.

Anemone
blanda
(Grecian Windflower, Fair Windflower, Greek Windflower)

Deep Blue

April, May

Clump. Many petalled Star-shape flower on stem

6 x 6
(15 x 15)
Chalk, Sand with Leaf-Mould
Part Shade,
Full Sun
Moist

Dark Green

Woodlands, Mass plant. Deer, rabbit resistant. Cold greenhouse. Ground cover. Rock garden. Carpet under small deciduous shrubs

Companion plants from Department of Horticultural Science of NC State University for Anemone blanda and its cultivars

Anemone
blanda 'Blue Shades'
(Winter windflower 'Blue Shades')

Mid to Dark Blue

April, May

Cushion Mound.

6 x 6
(15 x 15)

Well-drained Chalk or Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade
Moist

Mid Green lobed leaves.
They open their many petalled star shape bloom on stem in the morning and shut them at night.

Ground cover. Cut flower. Mass plant. Naturalizes in turf on alkaline sandy soil. Woodland.

Use to create a blue carpet in your border between your deciduous shrubs and interplant with Narcissus 'Ice King' and Galanthus nivalis.

Anemone
blanda
'Charmer'
(Windflower)

Deep Pink

April, May

Clump.
Many-petalled star shape bloom on stem

6 x 6
(15 x 15)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade (Full Sun preferred)
Moist

Dark Green fern-like leaves

Grow in pots and are ideal cut flowers. They are deer, rabbit and squirrel resistant. Naturalize in turf

They are ideal layered under white or soft yellow daffodils or peachy/pink cup of daffodil 'By George'.

Anemone
blanda
'Pink Star'
(Winter Windflower)

Phlox Purple

March, April

Cushion.

5 x 6
(13 x 15)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Dark Green fern-like leaves

Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat. Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees. Excellent cut flower. Naturalize in turf.

The richer in humus the soil is, the more flowers each corm will produce over a 4- 6 week period. Anemone blanda varieties open their blooms in the morning and shut them at night.

Anemone
blanda
'Radar' (Winter Windflower 'Radar', Radar Grecian Windflower, Greek thimbleweed)

Deep Magenta with White centre

April, May

Clump.
Many petalled star shape bloom on stem

4 x 4
(10 x 10)

Well drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist (Needs dry dormancy after flowering)

Dark Green leaves composed of 3 deeply lobed segments

Grow in pots, Woodland, Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in turf on alkaline sand.

Plant in bold drifts. Between June and July, lift and divide tubers after foliage has died down. Anemones grow well on the chalk soils of the South coast of England.

Anemone
blanda rosea
(Pink Windflower)

Light and Mid-Pink

April, May

Mat-Forming.
Many petalled star shape bloom on stem

6 x 4-20
(15 x 10-50)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade
Moist

Bronze-tinged Dark Green leaves composed of 3 deeply lobed segments

Alpine House, Greenhouse, rock garden.
Naturalize in turf on alkaline sand.

Plant in bold drifts. Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat. Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees.

Anemone
blanda
'Violet Star'
(Winter Windflower)

Rich Violet with
White centre

March, April, May

Cushion or
Mound-forming habit Many petalled star shape bloom on stem

6 x 4
(15 x 10)

Well drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Dark Green fern-like leaves

Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat.
Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in turf on alkaline sand.

Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees.

Anemone
blanda
'White Splendour'
(Winter Windflower)

White

March, April, May

Excellent ground cover as large clumps are quickly formed. Many petalled star shape bloom on stem.

6 x 10
(15 x 25)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade
Moist

Dark Green palmate basal and stem leaves

Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat. Lasts well for up to 2 weeks in water as a cut flower.
Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden

Anemone blanda 'Ingramii', 'Radar' or 'White Splendour' will naturalise in turf on light alkaline soil (chalk or alkaline sand). Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees.

Anemone coronaria
'de Caen'
(Anemone bucharica, Florist Anemones, Poppy Anemone)

Red, Blue or White

March, April,
May, June

Spreading.
Floret

12 x 6
(30 x 15)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun
Moist

Dark Green
Does not grow well in gardens in cooler climates, prefers warmth. Ok outside in South of England and Holland

Alpine House, Rock Garden.

Must be given protection of frames or greenhouses in colder areas.

Plant tubers 3 inches deep and spaced about 3 inches apart in bold drifts in Sep-Oct for spring-flowering; Mar/Apr for Jun-Jul flowering; May-Jun for Sep flowering.

Anemone coronaria
'St Brigid'
(Anemone bucharica, The Ostrich Feather Anemone)

Red, Blue,
Orange, Pink,
Purple or White

February, March,
April, May, June,
July, August,
September, October
Spreading.
Disc

14-16 x 6
(35-40 x 15)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade
Moist

Rounded to oval bright Green leaves. Does not grow well in gardens in cooler climates, prefers warmth.

Must be given protection of frames or greenhouses in colder areas.
Alpine House, Rock Garden, Woodland.

Ok to grow outside in South of England and Holland. Mulch with fallen autumn leaves to provide frost protection and moisture retension in the summer.

Anemone demissa

White, Blue, Red
or Purple

May, June, July

6 petalled star shape bloom in a plate

6 x 6
(15 x 15)

Chalk, Sand
Part Shade or Full Sun
Moist

Dark Green

Woodland, Streamsides,
Naturalize in grass

Native to forests, sparse forests, scrub, grassy slopes and streamsides from 3000-5000 metres in North India.

Anemone hupehensis
(Japanese Anemone, Hupeh Anemone, Japanese Thimbleweed,
Chinese Common Name is da po wan hua hua)

White, Pink or Purple

August, September

Clump and
Spreader.
5 petalled star shape bloom

36-48 x 18 (90-120 x 45)

Well-drained Acidic Sand is preferred - will tolerate fertile chalky soil.
Part Shade
Moist or Wet

2-8 inch long, 2-6 inch wide basal Green leaves with lower surface pale Green

In China is native and naturalized on scrub, grassy slopes and streamsides in hill regions.

Good Companions - Japanese anemones mix well with many vibrant autumn flowers, including Aster 'Little Carlow' and Aster laevis 'Calliope'.

Anemone x
lipsiensis
'Pallida'
(Windflower)

Pale Yellow

These can last for 2-3 weeks if weather conditions are cool.

March, April, May

5 petalled star shape bloom on stem

6 x 18
(15 x 45)

Well-drained Sand or Chalky, humus-rich soil.
Part Shade
Moist

Rounded, 2-3 inches long, three-palmate and have deep lobes, Dark Green leaf in March-June. Plant is dormant in the summer, autumn and early winter.

These plants are ideal for a woodland or rock garden, where they spread very slowly due to the fine network of roots that they create between the deciduous trees/shrubs.

Makes a pretty colour combination with red or plumy forms of Helleborus x hybridus.

Overall flowering period is around eight weeks long.

Anemone narcissiflora
(Anemone narcissifolia, Narcissus-flowered Anemone, Narcissus Wind-flower. In Italy - Anemone narcissino. In USA - Narcissus anemone)

White and White tinted Blue or Yellow

May, June, July

Clump.
5 petalled star shape bloom in umbel on stems

3-24 x 20
(8-60 x 50)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Full Sun and Part Shade (part shade of light woodland)
Moist

Light Green.
Flowering stems emerge from the foliage in late spring, each stem being topped by a 2-8 flowered umbel of 1-1.5 inch diameter flowers.

Maritime gardens.
It is immune to predations by rabbits.
Grows in alpine grasslands and grassy meadows as well as open woods.

Edible leaves and roots.
They are greedy plants, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes.

Anemone nemorosa
(Windflower, Wood Anemone is in the Buttercup Wildflower Family)

White

April, May

Spreading.
6 tepalled star shape bloom

4 x 12
(9 x 30)

Chalk enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands
Part Shade
Moist

Dark Green feathery foliage

Found growing as a carpet in woodlands where the wood has been coppiced, thereby admitting extra light. A good bee and bumblebee plant.

Anemone nemorosa is native to Europe including Britain. Clumps are best transplanted soon after flowering before the foliage has completely died down.

Anemone nemorosa
'Alba Plena'
(Windflower, Wood Anemone)

White

April, May, June

6 sepals on semi-double stellate of tiny petals on a stem

6 x 10
(15 x 25)
Chalk enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands, Peat
Part Shade
Moist

Dark Green

Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. Wood-land. Ground cover. A good bee and bumblebee plant.

In the dry oak wood of lower levels, the sub-dominants are holly, anemone and bluebell, with the foxglove well distributed.

Anemone nemorosa
'Allenii'
(Wood Anemone 'Allenii')

Lavender Blue

April, May

Clump.
6 Petal star shape bloom on stem.

8 x 20
(20 x 50)

Chalk, Peat Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands
Part Shade
Moist

Deeply cut, Mid Green.

Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. Woodland.
A good bee and bumblebee plant.
 

Combines beautifully with spring-flowering bulbs and wildflowers, particularly yellow narcissus. Divide large clumps in early fall.

Anemone nemorosa
'Bracteata Pleniflora'
(Wood Anemone)

White and Green

April, May, June

6 tepal star shape bloom on stem

6 x 6
(15 x 15)

Chalk, Peat, Acidic Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands
Part Shade
Moist

2 to 5 inch long, 3-palmately compound stem and basal leaves. Dark Green leaflets are narrow, toothed, and divided even further. Foliage dies back shortly after blooming.

Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. Woodland.

In the dry oak wood of lower levels, the sub-dominants are holly, anemone and bluebell, with the foxglove well distributed.

White woodland anemone which is unusual in that it has three different styles of flowers growing on the same plant- some are single, some double, and some double with a green ruffle.

A good bee and bumblebee plant.

Anemone nemorosa
'Lychette'
(Wood
Anemone, Anemone 'Lychette')

White

April, May, June

6 tepal star shape bloom on stem

6 x 6
(15 x 15)
Chalk, Peat Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands
Part Shade
Moist

Dark Green

Alpine House, Greenhouse, rock garden. Naturalize in grass.
Groundcover in deciduous woodland

Good partner with rhododendrons.

Large open flat white flowers on maroon-tinted stems.

Anemone nemorosa
'Robin-soniana'
(Wood Anemone)

Wisteria Blue

April, May

Clump..
6 tepal star shape bloom on stem

5-6 x 20
(13-15 x 50)
Chalk, Peat Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands
Part Shade
Moist

Deep Green tinged with Purple. The foliage tends to die down in the summer, ready to re-emerge the next spring.

Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass.

A good bee and bumblebee plant.

In the dry oak wood of lower levels, the sub-dominants are holly, anemone and bluebell, with the foxglove well distributed.

Anemone nemorosa
'Vestal'
(Wood Anemone)

White with
White Button

March, April

Mat.
6 tepal star shape bloom as a button on stem

5-6 x 6
(13-15 x 15)

Chalk, Peat Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands
Part Shade
Moist

Deeply divided Green foliage.

Overall flowering period is around 8 weeks long.

Ideal ground cover in shady areas or wood-land gardens.
Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. A good bee and bumblebee plant.

White flower with tightly packed button in the middle of the flower, developing from the previously yellow centre. These flowers can last for 2-3 weeks if the weather is cool.

Anemone ranunculoides
(Anemonoides ranunculoides, Buttercup Anemone, Yellow Anemone, Yellow Wood Anemone, Wood Ginger)

Golden-Yellow

February, March,
April, May

Spreading.
5-6 tepal star shape bloom

12 x 20
(30 x 50)
Acidic Sand enriched by leaf mould in the soil before planting and then mulch with fallen pine needles during the autumn to keep the moisture and acidity during the short spring and summer growing season.
Part Shade
Moist

The green foliage dies back to its rhizomes by July. The rhizomes spread just below the earth surface and multiply quickly, contributing to its rapid spread in woodland conditions.

Rock Garden, Alpine House, Ground cover, Pine Woodland

It is good to know that "if planted in optimal conditions, it can flourish for years past its gardener."

Caring for an Anemone Ranunculoides article provides the growing instructions to grow a healthy plant.

Anemone ranunculoides
'Pleniflora'
(Double-Flowered Yellow Wood Anemone, Buttercup Anemone)

Bright Yellow

March-May

Spreading.
Semi-double flower with many tepals

6 x 18
(15 x 45)
Same Acidic Sand soil as above.
Part Shade
Moist

Bronzy-dark-green foliage. The rhizomes spread just below the soil and multiply quickly, thus its rapid spread in woodland conditions.

Buttercup Anemone grows in forests and in rock and alpine gardens. Grow in woodland or shaded part of border.

The foliage dies back to its rhizomes by July, so grow under Tricyrtis for example.

Anemone rupicola
(Anemone batangensis, Anemone rupestris)

White, Yellowish
or Purplish

June, July,
August

5 tepal star shape bloom

4-10 x 6
(10-25 x 15)

Sandy loam with leaf soil and grit
Full Sun
Moist

Pale Green much divided 3-lobed leaves

Suitable in rock garden.

Its native habitat is woods, streamsides, stone cliffs and gravelly slopes from 2400-4200 metres.

Anemone trullifolia
(In China -
chi ye yin lian hua)

White fading to Blue.
Can be White,
Yellow, Pinkish,
Purplish or Blue in
China

April,
May,
June,
July,
August

Clump.
5 tepal star-shape bloom on a stem

6 x 12-15
(15 x 30-38)
Sand and Peaty in cool moist spot
Part Shade
Moist. Avoid soil becoming completely dry during the summer and suspend watering in the winter.

Velvet/fuzzy textured Mid Green

Its native habitat is streamsides in forests and alpine meadows.

There are also 7 varieties of Anemone trullifolia.

St Andrews Botanic Garden May 2011 collaborated with colleagues in China.

Arisarum
proboscideum
(Mouse Plant - In spring cream and brown flowers are produced at ground level. They have a long, thin ‘tail’, making the flower look just like a mouse.

Dark Brown-Purple

Flowers and foliage appear at the same time.

April, May

Cushion.
Hood shape bloom
 

6 x 10
(15 x 24)

Acidic Sand, Clay, Chalk
Part Shade
Moist

Glossy, Bright Green and arrow shaped

Foliage dies down in late summer

A woodland perennial with flowers lasting a long time in indoor arrange-ments. Foliage is groundcover until late summer. Mix with spring-flowering woodland bulbs.

Great Plant Combinations: Waldsteinia ternata, Asplenium scolopendrium, Cyclamen coum, Dryopteris crassirhizoma, Anenome nemorosa. Can be invasive.

Arum italicum
'Marmoratum'

Greenish-Yellow spathes with a yellow spadix followed by spikes of orange-red berries lasting all summer

June

Mat, Erect

12 x 6
(30 x 15)

Well-drained Chalk, Sand
Part Shade
Dry

Mid-Green with Cream veins foliage from late autumn to mid spring

Cottage Garden. Ground cover with hosta. Naturalizes in woodland. Spathes and berries suitable for flower arrangements. Use in patio pots.

Underplant roses, hostas, Hemerocallis, Iris and shrubs.

Aruncus dioicus
(Goatsbeard)

Creamy-White

June, July

Clump
Plume

72 x 48
(180 x 120)

Clay
Part Shade, Full Shade
Moist or Wet

Pinnately compound, Mid-Green

Moist wood-lands. Good for cutting. Native garden, a specimen, or groups along stream or water gardens. Mass down a slope.

This plant demands space. Mix with gunneras and Campanula latifolia, which are also self-sowing. Border background plant.