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Allium giganteum, also known as Giant Onion, is a very tall perennial plant that can grow to 1.5m (4ft). This plant, native to Central Asia, is an edible bulb, and is used as a
medicinal and ornamental plant. A common cultivar is 'Globemaster'
With massive purple balls, on tall stalks and thin long green leaves this plant and flower add stunning visual effects to any garden.
potting soil Use potting soil that retains water yet drains well. It needs to be well aerated. Add sand or perlite and peat moss if soil gets packed too tightly.
If you want to mix your own soil take: 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part moist peat or humus (leaf mold) and a light dusting of lime. Always use a pot with a hole.
Planting instructions Plant the 'bulb' just below the surface (about half of bulb showing).
Fertilization After the plant settles in use a fertilization program that has been successful for you. Feed this plant monthly with a water soluble fertilizer. An alternative is a granular slow release fertilizer if applied annually in the early spring.
Watering Keep the soil evenly moist and reduce water during the winter or dormant season. If you use rainwater, be careful as it could be acidic. Use warm water.
Aspect This plant does best in full sunlight coming from the South/West
Suggested uses Architectural, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Gravel
Characteristics Attracts Butterflies; Showy Flowers; Showy Seed Heads
Bloom and planting TimePlant in the Fall, Blooms in Early Summer; Late Spring; Spring; Summer
Flower Color Pink Flower; Purple/ Lavender Flower
Allium plants vary in height between 5 cm and 150 cm. The flowers of allium form an umbel at the top of a leafless stalk. Alliums have strappy, undistinguished leaves and straight tubular flower stalks.
The flowers form in clusters in the round pom-pom form, but they can be start shaped, cup-shaped, semi-circular or pendulous.
The Allium bulbs vary in size between species, from very small to rather big. Some species (such as chives, Allium schoenoprasum) develop thickened leaf-bases rather than forming bulbs. Most bulbous alliums increase by forming little bulbs or offsets around the old one, as well as by seed. Several species can form many bulbils (tiny bulbs) in the flowerhead; in the so-called tree onion (Allium cepa Proliferum Group) the bulbils are few, but large enough to be used for pickling.
Onions were used extensively by the ancient Egyptians, as shown by drawings and inscriptions on their monuments.
The wide use of alliums as ornamental plants is a more recent phenomenon, first gaining favor about the middle of the 19th century.
Onions are among the world's oldest cultivated plants. They were probably known in India, China, and the Middle East before recorded history. Ancient Egyptians regarded the spherical bulb as a symbol of the universe.
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This stunning photo of a single Allium Giganteum with deep rich purple color in full bloom was taken by wikipedia editor Wadester16 on 6/10/2009.
This photo taken by Chris Gladis from Kyoto, Japan and found on wikipedia
show the Allium Giganteum just a couple week away from bursting out into a full purple ball.
And here it is, the Allium Giganteum. Incredible that something so briliant and colorful can come from such a humble begining as a flower bulb.
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