Allium 2013

[quote=RickR]

Flower scapes of the A. sikkimense I recently posted are 8 inches, and I swear the flowers are more blue (rather than purple) than ever this year.  I wonder if it is because of the cooler summer weather.  While it is usually 80-90+ F at this time of year, high temps have only been in the 70-80F range.

This past Saturday we had our August Chapter plant sale.  Betty Ann Addison, owner of Rice Creek Gardens donated a whole flat of really choice plants.  Among them was Allium cyaneum.

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I would love to participate in one of your plant sales, Rick!

I've grown this species for almost 40 years, but never have seen an autumn sprouting. Do you have a photo of what it looked like in flower? Your "pot ghetto", very funny, I can relate to the phrase

I feel like I shouldn't complain about emoticons, they suddenly just showed up and they're fun to use, but half of them don't look much like what they're supposed to be emoting.

I have a lot to catch up with regarding Allium, I've been delinquent

Here's an interesting tidbit. Back in 2010 I received a form of Allium sikkimense; it has small tight clusters of blue (not nearly as nice as Lori's form), seems sensitive to heat and dryness, the flowers often abort or barely open in the midsummer heat, and it never sets seed.  Today I lifted half of the small clumps, and replanted.  Was surprised to see young sprouting offsets, but they're on "vertical" stolons, about 2" straight up from the parent bulb, essentially lifting them above the soil!  I separated the vertical stolons and planted them at normal depth, has anyone seen this before?  The behavior seems strange to me.

In the photo, the red arrow points to a young shoot on a vertical stolon over 2" above the parent bulbs, to the right is another green shoot on a vertical stolon.

Pretty inflorescence!  It's not Allium zebdanense, but is a member of Section Codonoprasum, the two long dried spathe segments are a hallmark of this group (same group that Allium paniculatum is in). In a recent paper on Section Codonoprasum in Turkey, an author writes "Sect. Codonoprasum Reich. is the largest and the most complicated section in Turkey, where 44 taxa are represented".  There are many dozens more species in Europe to Asia, with particular development in Greece and other Mediterranean areas, so it might be a challenge narrowing down an ID. Recommend posting on SRGC, there are some Allium experts there (like Janis Ruksans) that might be able to narrow down the possibilities.

I'll take an off-hand stab at it, reminds me of Allium staticiforme.

Yes, there are areas that are terribly overrun with aggressive weeds, other spots that are more easily salvageable. You're wise to consider the size of one's garden, all too easy to take on too much.  But I was able to maintain this garden for over 20 years without too much problem, it really has only been the last 2-1/2 years where my work situation dictated so much of my time.  I'm inspired, by seeing what has survived, to give them a new lease on life.  One key is, to make gardens that as sustainable as possible, something I must work on developing better techniques for. 

Before I go into some of my salvage operations, here are some nice autumn flowering alliums that I've been enjoying, looking really good this year due to a long string of perfect late summer-autumn weather.  Two views of Allium sacculiferum, one that goes around as Allium aff. thunbergii DJH (Dan Hinkley) 272, a very showy small allium with dense globular heads, unlike the effuse heads on Allium thunbergii. I have this growing in a woodsy part shaded bed among Epimedium and other woodlanders.

The next two are Allium pseudojaponicum, this is one I've wondered about for 2 decades, looks similar to thunbergii in bloom, but has flat leaves +4 mm wide (not three-sided hollow leaves as in thunbergii). The newer keys separate this species on account of the flat foliage and no teeth on the stamens.  This plant came to me as Allium taquetii (syn. of thunbergii) from the US National Arboretum, it has taken these two decades for the taxonomy to catch up and additional species to be defined around the thunbergii-virgunculae alliance, to be able to apply a name to it. This one is growing in a grass-infested area, so it's scheduled to be rescued, but seems to be doing fine on its own so far.

My favorite is a robust white form of Allium thunbergii that I find to be a particularly good garden plant, growing about 14"-16" tall. It is stronger growing than some other white forms I have tried.  In one photo, you'll see Allium sacculiferum in the background, for size comparison.

The last one is a delicate form of Allium stellatum - ex, Carroll Co, Arkansas, grown from seed sent to me by Aaron Floden. Has been flowering for weeks, about a half dozen stalks, the small heads of light pink are delightful upon close inspection.

Rick, it's so satisfying seeing this, happy that you had good results from the seed, and already you shared it with others!  The heads on your young plants will get bigger and much more densely-flowered in coming years.  I should get good seed set this year, although I probably gave away half of what I had, this plant is in high demand, and as you suggest, what's not to love about a small bulbous plant flowering this time of year (and hardy). The close-up photograph is really a fine capture.

Allium bodeanum - appears to be a shorter version of A. cristophii

I have some seedlings of Allium peninsulare, but being impatient I also bought some bulbs last fall - the first of the bought ones is starting to open

cheers

fermi

Hi Rick,

if you look closely there is one rather ratty looking leaf showing! The others are below the level of the photo - they don't look as attractive as yours!

cheers

fermi

That's a lovely white allium, Rick.

Another American allium in bloom for us, Allium abramsii

Grown from Seedex seed I think,

cheers

fermi

[quote=RickR]

From Flora of North America:

Allium abramsii

Leaves persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 1, basally sheathing,...

So there is only one leaf, and it grows through your winter?

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Hi Rick,

yes, the flower-stem emerges from near the base and the foliage isn't phased by our mild winters,

cheers

fermi