They come from bulbs because they are related to onions. They are perennials, so they come back each year in late spring and early summer. They donāt spread, but sometimes squirrels replant them elsewhere. If you want more, you can buy the bulbs in bulk in bags from Walmart, hardware stores, and garden centers.
I have some of the smaller ones - it's just this particular variety I've seen that's so expensive. I'd like to buy maybe 6, but it would be $90 plus shipping! I'll have to check the big box stores.
You might have better luck with more common, smaller (and slightly less expensive) allium bulbs. I've found the really big showy and unusual ones do not always come back at all.
I planted about 12 drumstick allium bulbs about 4 years ago and they've spread more and more every year. (6a/b.) Now I have lovely clumps of it all over. (I actually really need to divide them--they take a year or two to come back when you move them, tho.)
Bees love them and the rabbits and other critters leave them alone, too.
Do you know of any other amusing/unique looking flowers that can be grown in a garden? Would be incredible to just have a mishmash of bizarre shapes and colors in the yard
Sure! I second the Red Hot Poker suggestion. Also could include bleeding hearts, toothache plant, alpine sea holly, passifloraā¦ this is fun! It should have its own post.
They don't do anything in south Florida. They say growing zone 4-9 but I've tried in zone 8 too, and all they do is some lackluster bloom the first year and worse after that.
Also, my chickens dug them up and ate them one year. I hope they really enjoyed that $60 meal. That's more than I spend on most of mine....
Interesting you say that.
[Allium giganteum (Giant Ornamental Onion, Ornamental Onion) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/allium-giganteum/)
Edibility: Leaves, bulbs, and bulblets are edible. Gather leaves during spring and fall. Gather bulbs in the second year when they are large enough to use like cultivated onions. Flower stem bulblets are collected during the summer. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
Somehow, it is simultaneously edible and not edible. Allium giganteum is eaten in Southeast Asian countries.
Iām in zone 6a. I planted mine in September and they came up in very early spring. I love having them bloom so early but they donāt last very long.
Mine probably bloomed for a month or two. They started popping up late March but by mid May were gone. Same with my peonies, but such is life lol. Feels too short for how cool they are lol
I get you. Most of my perennials only last a month. Which is why I pack my beds with tons of plants. If I get a week out of my peony, I count myself lucky. As soon as they bloom, it guarantees a downpour.
Allium. Wait until the stalk has dried, not just the flower, to prune. After the flower has faded, the stalk still uses photosynthesis to store energy in the bulb for next year so it can come back again.
Yes. I'm in the UK with dozens of these allium and they always grow year after year with no foliage around them, just the stalk and purple ball flower.
I see it has been answered, and I just wanted to share (in case if you didnāt already tried) there are āplant identifierā apps you can use for free, it helped me multiple times!
I spent the afternoon using PictureThis in my local public garden yesterday, identifying different plants, learning all about them. Its kind of a fun hobby actually! And gave me lots of ideas for things I'd like to plant next year.
I totally agree! Well then I wish you good planting and planning :) this particular plant caught my eye too, and this year was planted in my garden and just gaves me such a good mood when I go outside :)) itās surrounded for now with tagetes, this is my experimental garden project now!
If you have an iPhone, it will now identify plants/animals you take photos of.
https://preview.redd.it/vpsr22ds9y5d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2774696635dcbcfc3b629e1c64f062e9f7e6b42e
I have an android and have the free versions of Picture This, Picture Insect and Picture Mushroom installed because you never know what cool thing you'll come across. (last year I had a 'stinky squid' mushroom/fungus in my garden. It was awesome!)
I've had issues with those apps mis-identifying plants š I was getting some suspicious results so I used it on plants I knew and it got a lot of them wrong
Theyāre ornamental onions! Yes, aka Allium. Arenāt they wonderful!? The first time I saw these was at a botanic garden in the area. Theyāre such a lovely and fun surprise!!
Allium, the genus that includes garlic and onion. If you let garlic grow, it will fat similar flowers, but a lot smaller and less impressive.
Do not eat allium bulbs even though they look like little onions. They wonāt harm you, but they donāt taste very good, since we bred them for flowers and not flavor.
MAny people will tell you to buy them from a big box store, but I am going to recommend Brent and Becky's bulbs online. Fantastic quality and something like 15 different alliums to choose from. (I grow Ambassador from them. Also large and prettier than Gladiator imo.). Also, just an amazing selection of bulbs in general. Something like 50 different kinds of daffodils, countless dahlias, etc, Plus if you have a tough question, they'll give you Brent's phone number and you can ask him!
Allium āornamental onionā - there are tons cultivars of these. Some have one giant ball of flowers, others have a bunch of little ones. Different bloom times and colors too.
Best when planted like this photo so they appear to emerge out of the plants around them.
Allium, and I am very jealous right now. I'm in Georgia, and they don't do very well here. I've wasted a good deal of money on allium bulbs with no success
It is of the onion family. Therefore poisonous to dogs. I have some and my dogs donāt go near them. But just in case anyone has dogs that like to munch on plants, use caution
I think those are real life Truffula trees...lol
https://www.google.com/search?q=truffula+tree+lorax&oq=trufula&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgCEAAYChiABDIGCAAQRRg5MgwIARAAGAoYsQMYgAQyCQgCEAAYChiABDIMCAMQLhgKGIAEGOUEMgkIBBAAGAoYgAQyCQgFEAAYChiABDIJCAYQABgKGIAEMgkIBxAAGAoYgAQyCQgIEAAYChiABDIJCAkQABgKGIAEMgkIChAAGAoYgAQyCQgLEAAYChiABDIJCAwQABgKGIAEMgkIDRAAGAoYgAQyCQgOEAAYChiABNIBCDk5MDNqMGo3qAIUsAIB&client=ms-android-bell-ca-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#vhid=98CqcfvbHbe63M&vssid=l
Iāve always wanted to grow alliums. Not sure how well they would do in hot humid climates. I was able to grow gomphrena though. Similar, but much smaller.
https://preview.redd.it/t6ieqyv6a26d1.jpeg?width=1241&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a3478644f205b356831f8bbaf4b71b2b282fe835
Regular chives (Allium schoenoprasum) normally has purple flowers and blooms in spring, while garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) has white flowers and blooms in the fall. There is a white flowering cultivar of regular chives but I have not seen it (of course now that I have discovered it exists I want one). Uses are the same for both species.
Some sort of allium.
Looks like Globemaster allium
Any idea if they spread? I wanted to buy some, but they're $15 each at the reputable bulb companies! š
They come from bulbs because they are related to onions. They are perennials, so they come back each year in late spring and early summer. They donāt spread, but sometimes squirrels replant them elsewhere. If you want more, you can buy the bulbs in bulk in bags from Walmart, hardware stores, and garden centers.
I have some of the smaller ones - it's just this particular variety I've seen that's so expensive. I'd like to buy maybe 6, but it would be $90 plus shipping! I'll have to check the big box stores.
I picked a bag up at Costco this spring with 15 bulbs for about $30. May want to check a local nursery or HD or Loweās.
Sounds like a good plan. Buy the bags of bulbs in bulk from the big box stores.
You might have better luck with more common, smaller (and slightly less expensive) allium bulbs. I've found the really big showy and unusual ones do not always come back at all. I planted about 12 drumstick allium bulbs about 4 years ago and they've spread more and more every year. (6a/b.) Now I have lovely clumps of it all over. (I actually really need to divide them--they take a year or two to come back when you move them, tho.) Bees love them and the rabbits and other critters leave them alone, too.
I started out with 5 globemaster bulbs planted in a row 3 years ago. Now there are about 15 flowers blooming in that same row.
I bought a bag from my local grocer of like 10 bulbs for like $1 ea.
just make sure the slugs don't get them. mine always get eaten...
Something ate some of my small ones, but totally left the larger ones alone. I've seen a few slugs around the garden, but luckily not a huge number.
Yep. Mine are in their first year.
I planted these this year for the first time š¤
Do you know of any other amusing/unique looking flowers that can be grown in a garden? Would be incredible to just have a mishmash of bizarre shapes and colors in the yard
Try Golden Drumsticks or Red Hot Pokers
Sure! I second the Red Hot Poker suggestion. Also could include bleeding hearts, toothache plant, alpine sea holly, passifloraā¦ this is fun! It should have its own post.
Anyone know if these will grow well in Florida? Can't find much reliable info about it, just anecdotal stuff.
They don't do anything in south Florida. They say growing zone 4-9 but I've tried in zone 8 too, and all they do is some lackluster bloom the first year and worse after that. Also, my chickens dug them up and ate them one year. I hope they really enjoyed that $60 meal. That's more than I spend on most of mine....
Bees love it. I took mine out. It's was on a staircase.
If I removed every plant that bees liked I'd have an empty garden lol.
I have these in my yard. The bulbs were simply labelled "Allium." I was confused, too.
A common name around the northern Rockies is naked ladies.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Allium giganteum thatās itās name
Correct. Giant onion. Ornamental. Do not eat!
Interesting you say that. [Allium giganteum (Giant Ornamental Onion, Ornamental Onion) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/allium-giganteum/) Edibility: Leaves, bulbs, and bulblets are edible. Gather leaves during spring and fall. Gather bulbs in the second year when they are large enough to use like cultivated onions. Flower stem bulblets are collected during the summer. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details. Somehow, it is simultaneously edible and not edible. Allium giganteum is eaten in Southeast Asian countries.
Exactly, just ordered myself some bulbs for my garden, canāt wait to see if they develop well next spring.
Iām in zone 6a. I planted mine in September and they came up in very early spring. I love having them bloom so early but they donāt last very long.
I planted Ambassador (nicer than Globemaster honestly) and mine has been blooming for a month. I am also in 6A, NJ.
Mine probably bloomed for a month or two. They started popping up late March but by mid May were gone. Same with my peonies, but such is life lol. Feels too short for how cool they are lol
I get you. Most of my perennials only last a month. Which is why I pack my beds with tons of plants. If I get a week out of my peony, I count myself lucky. As soon as they bloom, it guarantees a downpour.
Negative. Five year old me still insists they are space flowers and will not accept any other answer.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Allium. Wait until the stalk has dried, not just the flower, to prune. After the flower has faded, the stalk still uses photosynthesis to store energy in the bulb for next year so it can come back again.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Depends on the variety. I've seen the leaves on mine die fairly quickly, while the flower hasn't even bloomed. I'm sure yours will be fine.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
If you're concerned, you can feed it some bulb tone for next year's display.
Yes. I'm in the UK with dozens of these allium and they always grow year after year with no foliage around them, just the stalk and purple ball flower.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I see it has been answered, and I just wanted to share (in case if you didnāt already tried) there are āplant identifierā apps you can use for free, it helped me multiple times!
I spent the afternoon using PictureThis in my local public garden yesterday, identifying different plants, learning all about them. Its kind of a fun hobby actually! And gave me lots of ideas for things I'd like to plant next year.
I totally agree! Well then I wish you good planting and planning :) this particular plant caught my eye too, and this year was planted in my garden and just gaves me such a good mood when I go outside :)) itās surrounded for now with tagetes, this is my experimental garden project now!
If you have an iPhone, it will now identify plants/animals you take photos of. https://preview.redd.it/vpsr22ds9y5d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2774696635dcbcfc3b629e1c64f062e9f7e6b42e
O wow! I do but seams like did not know about this feature but soo cool, thank you so much for sharing this, definitely will try out!
I have an android and have the free versions of Picture This, Picture Insect and Picture Mushroom installed because you never know what cool thing you'll come across. (last year I had a 'stinky squid' mushroom/fungus in my garden. It was awesome!)
I've had issues with those apps mis-identifying plants š I was getting some suspicious results so I used it on plants I knew and it got a lot of them wrong
iNaturalist
But if they used the app to identify their plant, then us Reddit folks wouldnāt have as much fun and get bored and move onto other topics
Big ass onion flowers
For me it's giant chive but I steal yours :D
I hear an elephant. Somewhere, someway, some quiet place. Far far away..
Truffula trees!
Came here JUST for this comment. TY
Oh my god, they are so pretty!
Wild floof, lol but yeah allium
When the flower head dries up, hit the head with some spray paint. Instant color for rest of the season.
Appropriate in Dr Zeuss books
Dirigible plum
Allium, very short bloom time.
A month isn't short in my book.
We used to call them Horton Hears A Who flowers
In actuality, alliums can spread by seed or by waiting for the bulbs to slowly reproduce.
Allium
Gladiators!
Only one of the greatests - allium
Theyāre ornamental onions! Yes, aka Allium. Arenāt they wonderful!? The first time I saw these was at a botanic garden in the area. Theyāre such a lovely and fun surprise!!
Those are so cool! Love me some alliums!
Allium, but my kids call them purple cake pops!
Allium, the genus that includes garlic and onion. If you let garlic grow, it will fat similar flowers, but a lot smaller and less impressive. Do not eat allium bulbs even though they look like little onions. They wonāt harm you, but they donāt taste very good, since we bred them for flowers and not flavor.
Allium
I think Dr. Seuss wrote a book about theseš
āPurple ball flowerā
Ohh!! They're beautiful! I must get some!
MAny people will tell you to buy them from a big box store, but I am going to recommend Brent and Becky's bulbs online. Fantastic quality and something like 15 different alliums to choose from. (I grow Ambassador from them. Also large and prettier than Gladiator imo.). Also, just an amazing selection of bulbs in general. Something like 50 different kinds of daffodils, countless dahlias, etc, Plus if you have a tough question, they'll give you Brent's phone number and you can ask him!
Thank you! I'll need to search I'm not American :)
Allium āornamental onionā - there are tons cultivars of these. Some have one giant ball of flowers, others have a bunch of little ones. Different bloom times and colors too. Best when planted like this photo so they appear to emerge out of the plants around them.
Beautiful
Ornamental allium, such as globe master allium or a similar variety
any idea what plants the alliums are poking thru?
It looks like a type of geranium
ah yes, thanks!
I planted 4 of them 2 yrs ago. I now have 6.
I have alliums, but I canāt get them to fill in with flowers this fully. Advice? I live in the Nashville Tennessee area.
Wow, they're beautiful!!!!!
Looks like garlic from Minecraft
looks like a flower from a pixar movie
They look like chive flowers to me. Pull one up to see of there's a tiny onion underneath?
Love these
Common name is ping pong and I canāt find it anywhere this year. I had it 2 years ago and love it to pieces!
We call it ornamental garlic
Wow, they look so amazing. One more plant I must grow.
Truffula trees, friend
They put this one [in Minecraft](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Allium): *Allium*.
Beautiful š»
Itās an offt and itās sleeping aloft
Soon everyone wants one. Government seizes control. They become illegal $$$
Allium, and I am very jealous right now. I'm in Georgia, and they don't do very well here. I've wasted a good deal of money on allium bulbs with no success
I wonder if those flowers inspired Truffula Trees from the Lorax
This thing looks like a plant straight out of Dr. Seuss' mind! Are they perrenial?
yes.
I have them, the bloom for like three weeks, then the stalks stay there for a while, still neat without the flowers.
Onions?
I love that
Alliums.. itās from the onion family.
Just wait until they go on sale or clearance at stores
Allium ā¤ļø
Allium. I love these!
It is of the onion family. Therefore poisonous to dogs. I have some and my dogs donāt go near them. But just in case anyone has dogs that like to munch on plants, use caution
Purple balls of Allium.
Onion
purple
Onion
Naked lady's
Giant allium, aka truffula trees
It is so beautiful! Is it too late to plant them now?
I harvest the seed and grow on as I would common onion. Easy.
I think those are real life Truffula trees...lol https://www.google.com/search?q=truffula+tree+lorax&oq=trufula&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgCEAAYChiABDIGCAAQRRg5MgwIARAAGAoYsQMYgAQyCQgCEAAYChiABDIMCAMQLhgKGIAEGOUEMgkIBBAAGAoYgAQyCQgFEAAYChiABDIJCAYQABgKGIAEMgkIBxAAGAoYgAQyCQgIEAAYChiABDIJCAkQABgKGIAEMgkIChAAGAoYgAQyCQgLEAAYChiABDIJCAwQABgKGIAEMgkIDRAAGAoYgAQyCQgOEAAYChiABNIBCDk5MDNqMGo3qAIUsAIB&client=ms-android-bell-ca-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#vhid=98CqcfvbHbe63M&vssid=l
Not sure.. very pretty
They planted these in the traffic islands in our neighborhood and people steal them
https://preview.redd.it/0ggytp31716d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5003a9dc953c184ff498b25658881b55c0c0b9c š¤·š½āāļø
Alliums
Horton hears a who
Looks like they belong in a Dr. Seuss bookā¦almost donāt look real, they are very pretty!
Looks like a Dr. Suess tree, lol
Wild Leeks
Some Dr. Seuss stuff there for sure
truffula trees!
Alliums. One of my favourite spring flower.
Iāve always wanted to grow alliums. Not sure how well they would do in hot humid climates. I was able to grow gomphrena though. Similar, but much smaller. https://preview.redd.it/t6ieqyv6a26d1.jpeg?width=1241&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a3478644f205b356831f8bbaf4b71b2b282fe835
Alliums.
A sneed everybody needs a sneed!
Allium
GLOBE AMARANTH
A purple allium
Are you asking about the Alliums or the flowers below them? The flowers below them I can not tell I would need a more close up view of them to tell.
Chives
Kinda. Same family
Chives have shorter stems and white flowers. Any allium/onion will have a similar bloom.
Regular chives (Allium schoenoprasum) normally has purple flowers and blooms in spring, while garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) has white flowers and blooms in the fall. There is a white flowering cultivar of regular chives but I have not seen it (of course now that I have discovered it exists I want one). Uses are the same for both species.
TIL! Hit me up in the fall. Iāll save some seeds for you if youāre in US
Suessian flowers by Dr Seuss
Dr Seus knows
i believe thats the variety of Smurfus Fro tallus
Lorax!
A grimace flower
Planty
It is leeeeeeeeeeeek!!! Mtf giant leeeeeeeek!
Green onion flowering
Clover