Apr 072010
I’m not positive which Allium this is, but I am going to go out a limb and say it is an ornamental onion ‘Allium Senescens’ Thanks to Joe the on the garden web forum ‘Name that plant’ for the identification. The plant stands about 2 – 2 1/2 feet tall. The flower heads are about 2 – 2 1/2 inches across the middle. Many seeds were tightly packed in the flower head. It’s too bad I missed it in bloom. Oh well, this summer I will get to see it’s beauty. The image of the flower is from Wikipedia and attributes go to Meneerke bloem for the use of the photo.
Allium 'Senescens' Ornamental Onion
Flower Dried Flower/Plant Dried Flower/Seed Head
Seeds Seedling Germination
10 days to sprout
Dear Sherrie, At the risk of sounding something of a ‘know all’ which I do assure you is not my intention, but is this no other than Allium schoenoprasum, chives, which as I am sure you are aware are delicious cut up and tossed into salads? It certainly looks it from the picture with the flowers having gone to seed. Also, the foliage appears to have ‘rust’ which is quite common on mature plants. Whatever, cut the plant back to the ground, water well and in a week or two it will be up again and as good as new!
Hi Edith, I dead headed the seed heads from this plant in one our city parks last fall after it was done blooming. I looked at the seeds from both this plant and the plant I believe to be Chives. The size of the seeds and the flowers on this Allium are much larger than the chives. I have decided to go along with another suggestion that the plant species is Allium Senescens. Thank you for the suggestion and for the information on keeping the plant happy and healthy through the growing season. Sherrie
The Allium foliage was the first thing to come up in my garden this year. Then is snowed and the poor things are well under the white stuff. So much for spring: even the plants got skunked.
Christine in Alaska
Hi Christine, Everything is doing very well coming up in Calgary so far this spring. It is always scary knowing a real bad frost can stunt their growth. I had a look at your blog and will check back often. Good luck gardening in Alaska.
Sherrie in Calgary