Allium Sale!!

THE GARDEN CLUB OF CONCORD 2021 “VIRTUAL” ALLIUM SALE

Sale begins the week of June 21 and ends July 16

A SignUp Genius order form will be emailed.

The Garden Club of Concord and the Horticulture Committee are pleased to offer to our members a wonderful selection of Alliums for sale at wholesale prices (no tax and no additional shipping fees). This diverse selection of choice bulbs represents some of the more unusual varieties that are often not found at garden centers or offered in smaller quantities.

Allium, latin for garlic, the Flowering Onions, are loved by gardeners because they are rabbit-, rodent- and deer-resistant, are seldom affected by disease, adored by bees, butterflies and pollinators, and are available in diverse heights, sizes, and colors.

Below is our 2021 Allium selection of 7 choice varieties. *Quantities may be limited and it is recommended that you purchase promptly.

Allium orders will be packaged and ready for distribution to members by early October.

Please use this information as a guide for purchasing on the GCC Allium Sale sign-up created on SignUp Genius.

You will receive this link by email the week of June 21.

Questions? Contact Maryann Street:      maryann.m.street@gmail.com

MAY/JUNE Bloom

#1.  A. karataviense   Set of 5/ $4.50  

This low-growing, 1876 heirloom has 5″- wide spheres of white florets with a pale purple-pink glow, darker midribs and broad, glaucous, blue-green foliage with thin red edges. Rabbit-, rodent-and deer-resistant, A. karataviense is terrific in mixed border plantings. It is one of the few Allium good for forcing. Bulb size: 12cm/up. May-June HZ: 5-9 8″                                                          

#2. A.schubertii   Set of 5/ $9.00   

The Tumbleweed Onion, circa 1896, this popular heirloom has incredibly huge, airy 12″-wide umbels of up to 100 mallow-purple florets extended on outright creamy-mauve stems atop a straight, thick and sturdy stalk. When the bud first emerges from its papery sheath, A. schubertii looks like  an upright, thick green paint brush.  As the floret stems grow and lengthen, it begins to look like spidery fireworks. This is because the tiny flowers are borne on the ends of the flower stems that vary in length from 1/2″ to 8″ (and even longer). Long-lasting A. schubertii continues to look like garden fireworks as its flowers die back and knobby green seed pods develop. It makes the most unusual and magnificent cut flower. Bulb size: 14cm/up.  May/June. HZ: 5-8. 16″                                                                          

#3. A. siculum bulgaricum  Set of 10/ $3.25                                                Circa 1873, the Mediterranean Sicilian Honey Lily has delicate, yet substantive, 2″-wide umbels of 20 to 30 pendant greenish-white florets, flushed purple and edged in white. Each umbrella-like umbel emerges from a papery sheath after which the little nodding buds spread, growing on wiry 4″ stems. As the buds elevate, the flowers open to reveal interior green eyes and pink to deep plum striations. Its strappy, ground-level foliage usually browns out prior to flowering. Rabbit-, rodent- and deer-resistant, A. siculum bulgaricum should be planted in full sun to partial shade. Bulb size: 8 cm/up. May/June. HZ: 6-10. 32″ to 36″.

#4 A. stipitatum White Giant    Set of 3/ $10.25   

The tallest of the white Allium, White Giant has densely compacted, 6″-to 8″- wide, snow-white globes comprised of hundreds of little florets with deep green eyes (ovaries). The foliage is quite spectacular, particularly for Allium: it stands upright and stays green until the flower blooms and begins to fade into its hauntingly beautiful dried form. It too is rabbit-, rodent-and deer-resistant and much loved by bees, butterflies and helpful pollinators. Bulb size: 18cm/up. May/June  HZ: 5-8 36-48″                                                  

JUNE/JULY Bloom

#5 A. Nigrum A. multibulbosum. Set of 10/ $5.25                                                  

Dating back to 1762, this multi-flowering heirloom has compact, 3″- to 4″-wide spheres with flat bottoms comprised of densely compacted white star-shaped florets with green eyes (ovaries) and pale green midveins on the reverse. When it opens, before its full shape is developed, it looks like a glistening white muffin top studded with peridot gems. It is terrific planted with Catmint nepeta. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. June/July. HZ: 4-7. 18″ to 24″

#6. A. Ambassador   Set of 3/ $15.75                                                                             One of the tallest and longest blooming of the statuesque, garden-architecture Allium, intensely purple Ambassador has tightly compacted, 7″-wide globes comprised of starry florets that likely count in the hundreds. Rabbit-, rodent- and deer-resistant, bee-loved Ambassador can bloom for five weeks, followed by weeks of its attractive dried form. Bulb size: 20 cm/up. June/July. HZ: 5-7. 48″.

JULY Bloom

     

#7. A. sphaerocephalon   Set of 25/ $3.75                                                             

The Drumstick Allium. Dating back to the 16th century, this terrific naturalizing heirloom has dense, egg-shaped composite flowers that open green and mature to rich crimson-purple. Perched atop wiry, yet strong stems, 1″- to 1 1/2″-wide round composite flowers dance in the breeze as the individual florets open from the top down with shimmery silver-white stamen. Each flower becomes more egg-shaped as it matures. Best planted en masse, it is one of the most cost effective of all Allium and perfect for thick drifts in mixed perennial beds, meadows and natural settings. Don’t let anyone weed the thin wiry stems as they emerge in late spring! Bulb size: 6 cm/up. July. HZ: 4-9. 24″.