Garden Detective

I've always been fond of Alliums, though over the years they haven't performed well for me. I'm not quite sure why, but they always seem to make a poor showing. When I planted my first Alliums -- 'Purple Sensation,' several years ago, only 3 of 10 ten bulbs made any kind of a showing. The following year, only 1 popped up, and then nothing.

And so it went. Bad luck with Alliums, which have a reputation for being pretty reliable and easy to grow. Last year, I planted a bunch of 'Purple Sensations," and while they all grew in the spring, they were dwarfed, stunted.

These Alliums belong to same family as onions, and most species multiply by producing offset bulbs. Because of their relation to onions, their bulbs repel most garden pests, but bees and butterflies are attracted to their blooms.

This year, I'm giving them another shot. I just underplanted my Knockout roses with Allium giganteum Globemaster, which promise 10-inch globes of flowers on nearly 3-foot-tall stems from May through July. To be cost effective -- and because of my run of bad luck -- I'm starting with just 10. If they make a nice showing, I'll get more next year.

Name: Allium Globemaster
Height: 36"
Bloom time: Late spring, early summer.
Purchased from: Colorblends.com
How many: 10
Duds in the batch: 0
Catalog description: "The most spectacular of all the alliums. It produces perfect 10-inch orbs of densely packed, lilac-purple flowers on tall stout stems. Because the flowers are sterile, they last a long time. An outstanding cut flower, fresh or dried."