| The genus Allium contains almost 700 species of flowering perennials, nearly all of them are bulbs. Several species have culinary uses commonly known as onion, chives and garlic. Medium green, basal leaves are strap- or grass- shaped and grow upright to spreading. Flowers are bell- to star-shaped, and range from pink to purple to blue in color. Flowers are often small, but have great impact in the garden because they are clustered into large flowerheads. One flowerhead grows on a single stalk (4 inches to 3 feet long, depending on the variety) above the ground. Leaves are often 1/2 to 4/5 as tall as the flower stalk. Plant in fall, before the first hard frost. Excellent planted in borders or in a rock garden. |
