Much admired are the blue alliums, although like many alliums, they're terribly confused in horticultural circles. The species that bloom mid to late summer, such as A. cyaneum, A. sikkimense and A. beesianum, are particularly valued for their late color and delicate flowers in various shades of true blue. This is a small group, with only 17 species out of 850 species having true blue flower coloration.
Allium beesianum - a Chinese species, and one of the few true blue flowered Allium species. This late summer blooming Allium is often confused with A. sikkimense. The latter flowers in July whereas A. beesianum flowers in late August to September. Photos by Mark McDonough, taken August 23, 2002 and one week later on Aug. 31st, with more flowers open and foliage showing:
Allium caeruleum is readily available, inexpensive, free flowering and very pretty in the garden. This species, here photographed in the Maryland, USA garden of Jim McKenney in early June 2005, seems to require dry summers to persist from year to year. As the plants get older, the umbels tend to become irregular and bulbiferous. But the wonderful color does not change. The orange flower seen in one of the photographs is the perennial poppy variously known as Papaver atlanticum or P. rupifragum. The poppy and the blue onion make a cheery late spring combination.
Allium caesium - a deep blue form from Antoine Hoog. This Central Asian species is variable and occurs in a number of different forms and shades of blue. Previously I have grown a soft gray-blue form, but the dark blue form shown in the first picture is also attractive, flowering in early summer. The next two photos illustrate two more forms, collected from Central Asia by Arnis Seisums, showing the variability of the species. The flower heads are large and a beautiful pale yet rich milky blue color. Both photos taken in June 2004. All photos by Mark McDonough.
Allium cyaneum - a dwarf, mid to late summer flowering blue allium from China. Extremely variable, but typically a small plant 6" or less in height, with fine grassy foliage, and small pendant to semi-erect sprays of starry blue flowers, variable in color to pale grayish blue to deep cobalt blue. Albino forms are known but rare. The following link is a drawing by Mark McDonough
Allium litvinovii - From Central Asia, this is a rare species only recently introduced into cultivation. It's available from Pacific Rim Native Plant Nursery, and well worth the price, if it's still available. The collection data is given as Kirghizstan, Chatkal Range, near Lake Sari-Chilek. It flowers in May-June with large, intensely purple-blue balls of bloom, atop 16" (40 cm) stems. Reportedly allied to A. caesium and A. caeruleum, it is distinctive in both flower and foliage. The first photo is in early anthesis, the 2nd shot at full anthesis. Photos by Mark McDonough.
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
Return to the PBS wiki Photographs And Information page