The fact that ornamental onions are not all the same, but that there is a whole range of plants with a wide variety of flower colors and growth heights, becomes clear when you learn that there are around 800 types of ornamental onions. Here you will find an overview of the probably most important types and recommendable varieties!

It doesn't always have to be purple: there are also white flowering ornamental onion varieties

Giant and dwarf ornamental onions

The giant ornamental onion (Allium giganteum) stands out from the other species because of its impressive growth height. It can grow up to 2 m tall! Its flowers also show greatness. They bloom in June. The most common varieties include:

  • ,Gladiator'
  • 'globemaster'
  • 'Mount Everest'

The counterpart to the giant onion is the dwarf onion (Allium oreophilum). He is just between 20 to 30 cm tall. Its flowering period begins in May and the flowers are pink in color. This specimen is also perfect for pots.

Ornamental onion species that impress with their flower colors

The best known of these is the purple onion (Allium aflatunense). True to its name, it has purple flowers that are present from May to June. It grows to an average height of 80 cm. Worth mentioning is the popular variety 'Purple Sensation' with its purple flowers.

The garnet globe garlic (Allium atropurpureum) also impresses with a rather reddish flower color. Its flowers come in a dark wine red from May to June. The average growth height is between 50 and 80 cm.

The ornamental blue onion (Allium caeruleum) blooms as early as March and has gentian-blue flowers. The snow leek (Allium triquetrum) with its white flowers or the golden leek (Allium moly) with its yellow-golden flowers are wonderfully suitable in the vicinity. For the latter, the 'Jeannine' variety is particularly recommended. It's even edible.

Other interesting species and varieties

Are you looking for a very unusual ornamental onion for your perennial border? How about these:

  • Star bulb leek/sparkler flower (Allium christophii): 25 cm large inflorescences, silvery-violet-blue, 60 cm high, faintly fragrant
  • Ball-headed ornamental onion (Allium sphaerocephalon): ovate 5 cm large flowers
  • Rose Garlic (Allium ostrowskianum): bright crimson flowers

tips

The blue leek is also one of the low-growing specimens. With its blue flowers, it fits in very comfortably next to the dwarf ornamental onion.

Category:

Indoor plants