How to Plant Allium Bulbs

About Allium Bulbs

Alliums, also known as ornamental onions, are an ideal variety for making color and height combinations in the border. Most alliums flower in June, just after the common spring flowers, such as Daffodils and Tulips, and before most summer flowers come into bloom. They, therefore, form an indispensable perennial that keeps the border in flower well into the year.

When to Plant Allium Bulbs

Plant allium bulbs in the fall for late spring and early summer bloom.

Where to Plant Allium Bulbs

Allium bulbs are easy to plant. Like most flower bulbs, they prefer full sun, but will also thrive in partially shaded locations. Given both sun and good drainage, they will reappear year after year. Their slim, vertical shape means that most take up very little ground space while adding accents to a blowsy planting scheme.

How to Plant Allium Bulbs

In most cases, you will want to fertilize your allium bulb planting site with bulb food to ensure that the bulbs are properly established. For best results, we recommend planting your allium bulbs just over twice as deep as the height of the bulb and about 5 or 6 inches apart.

When planting, make sure that the bulbs are planted with the pointy end up and water your allium bulbs sufficiently after planting. Allium bulbs are versatile and are hardy in most climates. Allium bulbs can also be planted successfully indoors.

How to Care for Allium Bulbs

Alliums will naturalize over time. Congested clumps can be lifted and divided - straight after flowering, if necessary. Dead-head before the seeds disperse if you want to avoid seedlings.