Blue is an elusive color in Alliums but there are several that achieve that hue. This small bunch forming onion is a delight with clusters of nodding blue flower in mid-late summer. To 10″ tall a multiplying clump will spread to 1′ wide over time. Rich, well drained soil with regular summer water. Excellent in rock gardens, the front of borders and even hellstrips. Very easy to grow herbaceous perennial that blooms for 4-6 weeks. Cute little cutflower and loved by pollinators. Winter decidiuous for full sun- no fudging here. Long lived and hardy in containers. Moderate deer resistance.
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’
Bold cold hardy bulb that we cherish for its rosettes of huge wide deep purple foliage as it emerges in spring/early summer. By the middle of the season stems extend from the middle of the plant with unique columns of dense pink/white flowers. On top is a hat of leaves. Reminds me of a garden form of Carmen Miranda. The resemblance is where we get the common name of Pineapple lily. Give this big spreading perennial space. Following the flowers the wide, heavy leaves will turn more greenish and lay down. That means they will swamp any delicate neighbors nearby. At least 2′ of clearance on each side. Multiplies happily in rich, deep soil in full sun. Regular summer water restricts stress and keeps the leaves happily vertical. Long lived and hardy. South Africa.
Hyacinthoides (Scilla) lingulata
We adore this little fall blooming bulb. In September to November it bears clusters of small off blue flowers. They emit a powerful fragrance that is detectable many feet away. Small to only 4″ tall but multiple spikes add substance. The rounded longer leaves emerge simultaneously with the flowers and persist over winter. Best in a summer dry environment. Which means that once established its best with just the rain that falls from the sky. Hellstrips, rock gardens, the front of borders. Average to enriched soil in full sun. These multiply surprisingly fast and in time you get expanding colonies. Dormant in the heat of summer. Delightful fall blooming bulb we wouldn’t be with out. Moderate deer resistance and not bothered by rabbits. Photo by Andy Stockton.
Fall Daffodil, this is one of the brightest and most cheerful of all fall blooming bulbs. This vivid yellow flowers emerge and bloom with the first fall rain and it blooms for an extended period from early September into October. It forms multiplying clumps in full sun and rich soil. The leaves follow the bloom and they are deep green and rise to 6″ tall and persist all winter.. No supplemental water is needed once established , it simply avoids summer heat and dry by going dormant when truly hot weather hits. There is no presence in summer and mark the spot so that you do not plant something in that void during summer. Very easy to grow and long lived. In rich well drained soil, they multiply faster, but it is not fussy and tolerates rockhard dry clay soils. Truly related to Narcissus this bulb has great deer, rabbit, and pest resistance. Native to hillsides in Crete. Beautiful bulb for September in rock gardens, the front of borders, lining paths. The upright yellow goblet shaped flowers recall a large Crocus. Perfect for mediterranean plantings with species from there. Often persists in the oldest gardens.
Tulbaghia natalensis
Cute little perennial Society garlic with wonderfully sweet fragrant flowers, Best described as intense violets. To 10″ tall and forming expanding but diminutive clumps that are deciduous in hard freezes. Blooms May-August. Excellent for warm rock gardens or containers. Protect containers from temperatures below 20ºF. In the ground it has survived slightly below 10ºF in rich, well drained soil and full sun. Best in a warm position where you can catch a whiff of the wonderful soft lilac colored flowers. Wonderful and sweet cut flower. The foliage on this species lacks the pungency of the more common T. violacea. Moderate deer resistance. Light, consistent summer water. Mulch with leaves if extreme cold threatens. South Africa.
Tulbaghia violacea ‘Edinburgh’
Society garlic. This form of the popular South African perennial has performed fantastically in our garden. Aromatic clump forming foliage that rises to 10″ tall and to 2’wide in time. In June and continuously until frost spikes emerge, to 2′ and hold clumps of luminous, soft lavender flowers. Each spike is in bloom for a week or more. New flowers are continuously produced. Remove spent spikes to tidy. Full sun and WELL DRAINED rich soil with regular summer water. Very drought adapted when established. In cold gardens its best on hot slopes. Freezes to the ground in winter, returns quickly in mid spring. Foliage is intensely aromatic of garlic when disturbed. Useful, pretty, long blooming. Moderate deer resistance. This form was selected in Edinburgh, Scotland.