This page is devoted to the variable and colorful European species Allium flavum and Allium flavum ssp. tauricum. Also covered here, are images of species closely allied with A. flavum and those that will putatively hybridize with it under garden conditions.
Allium carinatum ssp. pulchellum - a European species that is very close to A. flavum, flowering at the same time in June or July depending on the variety grown. Informal sprays of little rose-purple, rose-pink, to white flowers dangling on very long slender pedicels. The second photo is of a a dwarf bluish-purple form and a creamy white form, collected on Mt. Olympus, Greece. This is the plant that was offered by Hoog & Dix as a blue-flowered form of Allium flavum ssp. tauricum, but it is undoubtedly a "pulchellum" variant. Since the photograph shows such a confusing jumble of flowers, I circled the topic species in red. Behind the blooms are the white flowers of an Achillea and pinkish A. flavum ssp. tauricum in the foreground. Finally there is a drawing of a dark pink form. Photos and drawing by Mark McDonough
Allium convallaroides - This is a European species that's not generally in cultivation. It is a pleasing species with handsome umbels of white flowers. It is similar in appearance to A. paniculatum and A. pallens, but in this species the slightly "ballooned" hollow leaves distinguish it from the other species. Flowers in June - July. Photos by Mark McDonough.
Allium flavum ssp. tauricum "selected mixed colors" photo taken July 8, 2002 followed by "Selected mixed colors in the morning". You have to love these things; the colors are so lovely, refreshing, and variable. Due to their pastel flower colors, and the fact the florets are waxy and have an underlying color, then covered with a dusty "bloom" or powder of another color on the outside, the color rendition is hard to characterize and each looks very different depending on light and time of day. I particularly like to observe them in the low morning light. Notice too, the wide, boat-shaped spathe valves that mix in with the flower heads, more pronounced on some specimens than others. Photos by Mark McDonough..
Named Color Forms - The following list represents a sampling of named color forms that I selected over the past several years. All photos by Mark McDonough.
The first two photos below are of 'Boston Baked Beans' and the third shows 'Cantaloupe' and 'Tan'
The first photo below is of 'Cinnamon' - one of my favorite colors, and the first to be selected in the deep orange range. The color changes over it's bloom cycle, but in general could be characterized as a burnt brownish or burnt reddish-orange. As with most "tauricums", the growth is compact and stocky, typically 8"-10" (20-25 cm) in height, clumping well, and with gray or silvered foliage, the silver patina most evident on the stems. The next two photos show 'Drawn Butter' and 'Hot Cauldron 1' . The latter is one of the more lively colored selections I made in summer 2001 with orangy-yellow and pink flowers. There was a "Hot Cauldron 2" selected as well. I believe both were lost over winter due to rodent predation, but I did save seed. In the foreground is a dwarf, deep pink form just "going over".
The next photo below is of 'Hot Molasses' followed by two of 'Lemon Cooler'
Photos of 'Lindsey', 'Pastel Parasol', 'Silver Shrimp', and 'Truely Faded', the last in bud, showing the striking silver coloration of stems and spathes.
Unnamed Color Forms - The following list show yet more variation in flower color and plant form. All photos by Mark McDonough.
First mixed colors, 2 yr. old seedlings, then 3 yr old seedlings, and an orange from at late anthesis, aging to rose
Photos below illustrate orange and pink forms from a squirrel's eye view, orange, pastel two-toned yellow and orange form and pink, a light yet lively form with blue-white stems
Finally there is a robust wiry-leafed form with bright pink flowers, tawny pastels in pale melon colors, and white-aging-pinkish, and an orange-aging-rose form.
Allium paniculatum The ubiquitous Allium paniculatum is found throughout Europe, North Africa, Asia, including China. Several subspecies are named, and in all of them, the diversity of forms is rather pronounced. This "tall white and brown form" is a nice attractive form growing up to 2' tall (60 cm) with a higher bud count than many paniculatum forms, spilling over with nodding bowl-shaped florets of white, subtlety stained pale olive-tan. Flowers in July. Photo by Mark McDonough.
"Dwarf reddish form" - This species occurs in a wide variety of colors. The one shown here is a common theme; basically having white flowers flushed and edged with brownish red. Growing only about 4"-6" (10-15 cm), it is well suited to the sunny rock garden in sandy soil. Photo and drawing by Mark McDonough.
Allium paniculatum ssp. fuscum 'Jerry' - Of the dwarf reddish flowered forms of A. paniculatum I liked this form the best, given to me by Jerry Flintoff. The white flowers are so generously tinged red that the mass of little flower sprays appears a pale flesh color when in bloom in July. Photo by Mark McDonough.
Allium sieheanum - A dwarf Turkish species, it resembles a miniature version of Allium pulchellum, with procumbent wiry stems, and numerous tiny rose purple flowers suspended on very long pedicels of the same intense rose color. Blooms in June-July. Photo by Mark McDonough.
In the following form from Turkey, originally from the Mac Phail and Watson expedition back in the 1970s, the heads of bloom varied from loose and open, to tight and globular. The following drawing shows the beautiful form with tight, globular heads of blue-purple florets. B&W drawing by Mark McDonough.
Allium sibthorpianum is a gem among many fantastic species native to Turkey. It's a tiny, clustering, rock garden sort that's ideal in troughs, well drained containers, or sand beds out in the garden. The key here is excellent drainage. This species looks something like Allium flavum ssp. tauricum and A. paniculatum in the shape and disposition of the little dangled bell florets, and several other diagnostic characteristics shared by this group of allied species. The flowers appear in June, the clusters of silvery pink bells are held atop chunky stems only 2"-3" (5-8 cm). As the flowers age, the florets deepen to a raspberry rose color and turn upright. I believe that this species hybridizes with Allium flavum ssp. tauricum, giving rise to dwarf, earlier flowering progeny. In the bud stage, it's intriguing how the buds appear as contorted prostrate snakes! In the final view of Alliums growing in a trough, we see Allium sibthorpianum and a couple of pale-flowered forms of Allium flavum ssp. tauricum. Photos by Mark McDonough.
Pot grown from NARGS seed in 2000. Photo below was taken by Arnold Trachtenberg
Allium index – American alliums A-C – American alliums D-H – American alliums I-M – American alliums N-R – American alliums S-Z – Allium flavum Relatives – Allium hybrids – Big Ball alliums – Blue alliums – chives – Domed alliums – Drumstick alliums – Miscellaneous alliums A-E – Miscellaneous alliums F-M – Miscellaneous alliums N-R – Miscellaneous alliums S-Z – Rhizomatous alliums
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