Decorative garlicis an onion plant with very interesting inflorescences. Some varieties have even huge, spherical inflorescences at the top of a tall stem, which makes them immediately eye-catching. See what are the best varieties andgarden varieties of garlicwhat it looks likeplanting garlic bulbsand when it is best to do it and what further care and cultivation of ornamental garlic
One of the most impressive types of ornamental garlic is the giant garlic (Allium giganteum)
Decorative garlic - garden species and varieties
Decorative garlicare onion perennials from all over the world. Many of them are frost-resistant, so they are suitable for field cultivation in our climate. Thecycle of ornamental garlicis similar to that of other spring flowering bulbs. It is worth planting because it is a fashionable, beautifully fragrant, colorful plant with very decorative inflorescences.
Decorative garliccreates single, grooved or flat and narrow leaves. A single, tubular shoot (called a scabbard) grows out of the leaves. Large spherical inflorescences appear at the tops of the shoots. Depending on the variety, the inflorescences may vary in size and color.
Whitish garlic (Allium christophii) forms spherical inflorescences with a diameter of 20 cm. There are over 50 star flowers in each ball
One of the most striking types of garlic isgiant garlic(Allium giganteum).It can reach a height of about 1 to 1.5 m. Leaves are equilibrium, blue-green. In June, light purple or pink-purple flowers appear, gathered in dense and dense spherical umbels with a diameter of 12 cm. Flowering may continue until August. After cutting, the inflorescences remain fresh for a long time, so the plant is also willingly grown as cut flowers.
Even larger inflorescences can be formed bywhitish garlic(Allium christophii). Its star-shaped, silvery-purple or silvery-pink flowers are gathered in inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter. This species is native to Iran and India, where it grows up to over a meter. In our climate, it usually reaches a height of no more than 0.5 m.
Another popularly cultivated species issouthern garlic(Allium moly). It creates smaller inflorescences (5 to 8 cm in diameter), but blooms from April. The umbrellas are a bit looser. Shiny yellow flowers. Reaches 40 cm in height.
These are, of course, only examples ofornamental garlicthat we can grow in our gardens. There are many species to choose from, occurring in numerous garden varieties. There will be plants for growing in flower beds, in rock gardens and even for containers for balconies and terraces. Particularly noteworthy isbear's garlic , which apart from its decorative qualities, has edible leaves, valued as a herbal raw material, cooking spice and addition to salads.
Decorative garlic - planting and growing
Planting decorative garlic
Decorative garlic bulbsare planted into the ground in autumn - at the end of September and October. We place them in the soil at such a depth that the onion is covered with a layer of earth equal to two times the diameter of the onion. They can grow in the same place for many years. However, it can be dug up every 3 to 4 years and planted elsewhere to prevent bulbs from thickening. The most appropriate time for such treatments will be the time after the end of plant vegetation - the beginning of summer.
The yellow umbrellas of southern garlic (Allium moly) are much looser and smaller. It blooms from April until August
Growing ornamental garlic
The soil on whichwe grow decorative garlicshould be permeable, preferably sandy loam, with a pH close to neutral, and a sunny position (in partial shade, garlic windstocks will be less impressive). In times of drought and intensive growth, plants should be watered abundantly. It is also worth feeding with compost or multi-component fertilizers, but remember not to over-fertilize garlic with nitrogen.
Thanks to the great variety and low cultivation requirements,decorative garlicis gaining more and more followers. It can be used for various types of planting. Tall specimens are suitable for fringes, while low specimens are well suited to rock gardens. In flower arrangements, cut garlic inflorescences are used as a wonderful decoration of dried compositions.
Note!Remember to cut off the fading inflorescences of ornamental garlic. Although the inflorescences of garlic are beautiful even when they fade, they need to be cut. Leaving them in flowerbeds will cause weakening of the bulbs and much weaker flowering in the next year.
