Alliums

I always try and include alliums of some sort on our schemes,,,they add a certain 'wow' quality to any border. I usually use allium Christopher where I can as they are most showy. Alliums can be grown in Zones 3 to 9, depending upon the species ..They aren't too picky about soil but it must be free draining In most cases ,alliums grow in average garden soil and need full sun and good drainage.

Onions, shallots and garlic are members of the allium family that belong in the vegetable garden. But there are many ornamental alliums that will be welcome in your perennial gardens.

Alliums are plants of exquisite beauty

, with tough constitutions. These easy-to-grow bulbs come in a broad palette of colors, heights, bloom times and flower forms. They make excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried bouquets. Even crowded gardens can accommodate a few alliums because they don't take up much space. What's more, alliums are relatively resistant to deer, voles, chipmunks, and rabbits

(Shown here alliums en masse at Richmond Park, near London)