I planted 1000 allium aflatunense ‘Purple Sensation’ in the front two formal beds in autumn 2008.
26th April 2009 First year after planting the alliums
All have now disappeared sadly; rather than replant I have decided to scatter seed from a wild allium that grows on the road verges and in the area outside the gate. I have been sprinkling the seed already for the last couple of years but it obviously needs a year or two for the seed to produce a plant large enough to give flowers. This year there is a small group of flowers which poke satisfyingly above the growing Perovskia. I like the effect, maybe even more than the cultivated variety. So I am now noting carefully where I see them growing wild so I can hopefully pick them when the seeds are ripe and spread them throughout the 4 formal beds, I realise it will take some time before the beds are overflowing with the lovely blobs of purple, but I can sometimes be patient!
There are actually many more than you can see here, but they will spread.
I love the contrast between the foliage of the Perovskia and the purple allium
The above image was taken late in the evening, silver of the Perovskia becomes almost blue.
the wind alliums have an even stronger colour than ‘Purple Sensation so I think they will look even better.
Hi,
Beautiful! It’s a shame your purple sensation did not survive; but I think you’ve found an even better solution, and they do look almost identical!
I love your wild alliums too…Most of mine are done blooming but they will be back each spring …..I have a later allium that is the color of your wild one. I wonder if it is related.
Disappointing that the cultivated alliums don’t remain – same here – but fascinating that you found wild ones to substitute. The effect is very nice.
Planting1,000 bulbs must have been backbreaking, such a shame that they have dwindled. Your wild ones look just as good and should be happier as they are used to your conditions.
Very few aliiums do well for me here, so I’m pleased that these wild ones will grow. Christina
It’s so amazing to realize the large scale of your gardening efforts. The Perovskia is a nice complement to the wild allium.
The formal beds are lavender edged beds containing only perovskia, I am slowly experimenting with additions to the beds. Christina
What a beautiful idea! The aliums look so good with the Perovskia. You are actually helping the environment as a bonus because the insects are more likely to use the native plants as food. Sorry to go on about the bees but the bumbles loved it when I let my chives flower so they must love your wild alium.
Many of my plants are natives or with simple flowers for the bees. There are usually so many different varieties of bbes that an entomologist did a survey trying to identify them all. Christina
That must have been so interesting to find out what exactly was buzzing around the garden. I have a lot of bumble bees and carpenters and have identified a few other solitary bees but I have the feeling that there is not a great variety.
I have a lot of Purple Sensation and all kinds of other alliums and most of them thrive and self sow. However, the daker purple is preferable I think.
Most alliums seem to need more moisture than my garden has to thrive. Christina
Hi! we really have those wild alliums in Italy? I didn’t know it before! They look even better that purple sensation, even though loosing 1000 bulbs must have been pretty shocking, I guess!
They dissapeared over a few years so it wasn’t so bad. I need to look more closely but it is either Allium ampeloprasum or Allium triquetrum. I think it is the former so a wild leek
it could be a. ampeloprasum but surely it isn’t triquetrum! Have a look at this forum: http://www.actaplantarum.org/floraitaliae/viewtopic.php?t=637
it is very interesting to understand (and see) wild plants, flowers and fungi in Italy (I guess you have to dust your italian though!) 🙂
Right, I misread which image referred to which description. Sono stata in Italia da otto anni, già, penso che possa capire bene l’articolo, sebbene sia sulle piante. Christina
Ah brava! 🙂
Pero, dubito che il mio italiano sia corretto come il tuo inglese! Christina
I love the contrast of the perovskia and the alliums. I have Allium triquetum here, it is the wild cornish garlic,and white, like white bluebells. Spreads alarmingly when happy.
I’ve the same problem with allium purple sensation though I blamed it on Scottish weather – looks like even in warmer climates it struggles to come back year after year. You must have been upset after all the time and effort it took to plant 1000 bulbs. I’ve decided to replant with new bulbs each autumn as I seem to get about a third to come back every year……..though maybe only 30 bulbs. We don’t have a wild variety here that is similar though the garlic white one grows rampantly here but one I wouldn’t want in the garden.
I don’t mind treating Alliums as annuals in other beds but it is too expensive and too much work to do the formal beds. Christina
The loss of 1000 bulbs is heartbreaking, but I like your spirit! In the end you will have the same wonderful effect with more enduring flowers. After looking at your previous post as well, I am again struck by the natural beauty of your countryside. Your part of the world is indeed blessed with fabulous wildflowers!
glad this story has a happy ending Christina, I like the wild allium and the colours in your formal beds, 1000 bulbs makes my lost 50 or so fritillia look trival, though 2 did appear after many years also I planted 25 christophie (might have spelt that wrong) alliums last year and nothing now one has appeared, do you think bulbs take time out to bulk up maybe, Frances
I think that many comercial bulbs are forced to grow quickly and then die. Some of my allium christophii did come back but nowhere near as many as I planted. Christina
I think you are right then they get us to buy more = spend more
To be fair, we want our bulbs to flower the first year we plant them so they need to ensure this happens. I treat all these kinds of bulbs, most tulips, most alliums etc, as annuals now and therefore only spend what I think reasonable for one year. Fritillia is different because these you definately buy to naturalise – there the problem is that maybe they should be planted ‘in the green’. Christina