Giant Onion – Allium giganteum ‘Globemaster’

This month, we feature the bulbous perennial commonly called Giant Onion. This may very well be the tallest of the ornamental onions, and one of my favorites. From the center of each basal rosette of gray-green leaves, comes a thick 3’ – 4’ stalk that is topped with a dense, globular, softball-sized cluster of tiny star-shaped purple florets. Leaves and stems smell like onions when they’re bruised, but the plant is not used for culinary purposes. Leaves begin to die back after flowering, so you can easily tuck this May bloomer into any garden with average, well-drained soil in full sun.

Other attributes include:

• No serious insect pests or diseases
• Drought tolerant.
• Deer and rabbit resistant.
• Can be planted under black walnut trees!
• Plant bulbs in fall for May bloom.
• 3 star nectar, 2 star pollen source, according to Garden Plants for Honey Bees, by Peter Lindtner.

     

 

-Marie Rojas