Summer Beauty Allium

For a charming and easy edging or splash of summer color, look no further than the Summer Beauty Allium. Resembling a giant chives plant, this easy-care perennial blooms from mid-June all the way into September, with 2-inch round heads of lavender-pink flowers. The foliage smells of onions if crushed, but is flat and narrow, standing well for the whole season. Although edible, this is not the true chives. It doesn’t produce viable seed, so it won’t become a nuisance – just a charming and beautiful way to brighten your summer garden easily. It blends perfectly with cone-flowers and other summer bloomers, or plant it on slopes, in retaining walls, or in planters. Valuable nectar and pollen source for butterflies, bees and native insects. Very durable and easy to grow, and suitable for the Midwest and northeast.

• Abundant display of lavender-pink 2-inch flower heads
• Flat, strap-shaped green leaves
• Won’t produce seed and become a problem
• Blooms from mid-June well into September
• Valuable for butterflies and pollinators

Grow the Summer Beauty Allium out in the sun, where it will bloom abundantly. Plant in groups or as edging for maximum impact. Happy in any well-drained soil, including sandy soils and dry ground (once established). Generally free of pests or diseases and untroubled by rabbits or deer. Pull out flower heads as they begin to die, for neatness. The foliage is semi-evergreen in warmer areas, but should be trimmed back in spring to keep it looking great.