The spent, dried, bleached-out bloom of Allium schubertii embellishing a mossed basket of succulents and bromeliads.*
Might be a ho-hum occurrence for many gardeners, but I never thought I’d see the day I’d get this allium to bloom, much less be able to play around with the dried remains, which resemble fossilized fireworks.
*The basket is hung on a tall tripod, which gives it the general outline of H.G. Wells’ Martian Walker. Height is key for lots of reasons; to thwart snails, for close-up, eye-level viewing, and to grow vines up the tripod legs, like the Thunbergia alata. Compulsive multi-tasking was bound to spill over into the garden.
I’d say it is a pretty rare sight even in colder climate gardens. It isn’t really one of the better known Alliums. Did you have to do anything special to get it to bloom for you? I am thinking of giving some Alliums a try in my CA garden.
Kaveh, from magazines and books I gathered everyone was having an allium party but me. I chilled the alliums this time — don’t know if you have to do that in Los Gatos. But I’ve read that of all the big-flowered types, schubertii and christophii are the best bets for warm winters. No luck with christophii so far. The little drumstick allium (sphaerocephalon) is also fine here.
Chilling worked for me with the drumsticks..I share your excitement ! I’m going to try Purple Sensation next year.
Just stunniing…love those big starburst Alliums!
OH so lovely! especially love gettting the eye candy succulents up to eye level!