2015 Fall Dividends

Our 2015 Potluck Dinner featured delicious dishes from our members and our fall dividends.

We’re also still looking for ideas for next year. Some excellent ideas were proposed at the meeting. If you have additional ideas, send them via the contact form.

Now, about the dividends:

Alliums

Allium bulbs are definite winter growers. Alliums need a sunny position in well-drained soil where the bulbs can be allowed to dry out in the summer months. In areas with damp summers, you can lift the bulbs in summer and grow them either in a bulb frame or in pots so that they can dry out. Alliums are mostly very hardy and easy to grow.

Allium Schubertii

allium-schubertii

Allium Schubertii have an almost unbelievable appearance! The long, tubular florets of different lengths result in a simply huge ball of elongated florets. Create a focal point in the landscape that will make people stop and stare! Allium Schubertii is sensitive to frost and should be mulched over with straw or newspaper in the winter.

Flower Color Pink
Common Name Allium
Botanical Name Allium Schubertii
Light Requirements Full Sun
Bloom Time Late Spring to Early Summer
Estimated Mature Height (est.) 16 – 18″
Optimal Planting Spread 3 – 6″
Planting Season Autumn
Planting Depth 6 – 8″
Soil Moisture Average

 


 

Allium Azureum

allium-azureum

Small balls of densely-packed azure florets on tall stems make this hardy variety unique. These tolerant plants will tolerate poor soils with aplomb. They flower just in that awkward time between spring and summer when colour choices are limited.

Flower Color Blue
Common Name Allium
Botanical Name Allium Azureum
Light Requirements Full Sun
Bloom Time Late Spring to Early Summer
Mature Height (est.) 20 – 24″
Optimal Planting Spread 3 – 6″
Planting Season Autumn
Planting Depth 3 – 4″
Soil Moisture Average

 


 

Allium Ostrowskianum

allium-ostrowskianumThis freely flowering Dwarf allium produces unusual Bloom Times in an intense shade of pink. Try it as a focal point in rockeries or brighten up the late-spring border with this exciting colour. These sun-loving plants tolerate poor soils well.

Flower Color Pink
Common Name Allium
Botanical Name Allium Ostrowskianum
Light Requirements Full Sun
Bloom Time Late Spring to Early Summer
Mature Height (est.) 6 – 8″
Optimal Planting Spread 3 – 6″
Planting Season Autumn
Planting Depth 3 – 4″
Soil Moisture Average

 


 

Allium Purple Sensation

allium-purple-sensation2True to its name, this is a sensational Allium. The tall flower stems are topped off with giant ball-shaped inflorescences packed with rich purple florets. Use them as a tall-flowering plant towards the back of mixed borders or plant them en masse for maximum effect.

Flower Color Purple
Common Name Allium
Botanical Name Allium Purple Sensation
Light Requirements Full Sun
Bloom Time Late Spring to Early Summer
Mature Height (est.) 24 – 30″
Optimal Planting Spread 3 – 6″
Planting Season Autumn
Planting Depth 6 – 8″
Soil Moisture Average

 


 

Allium Moly

allium-moly2

Bright, golden yellow inflorescences carried on compact stems add a touch of extra brightness to the late spring to early summer. The fairly loosely structured inflorescences accentuate the form of each of the large florets to perfection.

Flower Color Yellow
Common Name Allium
Botanical Name Allium Moly
Light Requirements Full Sun
Bloom Time Late Spring to Early Summer
Mature Height (est.) 14 – 16″
Optimal Planting Spread 3 – 6″
Planting Season Autumn
Planting Depth 3 – 4″
Soil Moisture Average

 


 

How to grow Allium Bulbs:

1. In the Fall, choose a spot that is somewhat sunny and has well-draining soil.

2. Planting allium bulbs is fairly simple. Bulbs look much like a small onion, with wiry roots growing out of one side and a spike on the other. Plant with the roots pointing down and the spike pointing up.

3. Give the bulbs at least 2 times their Mature Height (est.) of soil above them. Dig a 3-4 inch deep hole, drop the bulb into it and cover with soil.

4. If planting in beds, leave approx 3 inches between each cluster of bulb. If you are planting in containers, you can space them a little closer together.

5. After planting, water well so that the soil above the bulbs settles.

6. Allium bulbs flower in late Spring. After the flowers die down, the plant enjoys a warm rest period. You don’t have to water too much during this rest period. Leaves will also die back and at this point, you can choose to tidy up the plant and remove the old leaves or just let nature take its own course.

Identifying Your Allium Bulbs

This image shows the bulbs from the fall 2015 dividend to help you identify which bulb is which. There are 2 Schubertii’s, 5 Purple Sensations and 7 each of the Azureum, Moly and Ostrowskianum. The three smaller bulbs are fairly similar but there are slight differences: the Azureums are a little more yellow and the Ostrowskianums are the smallest which means the Molys are the ones that are a little larger and more white.

Image showing the bulbs.
2015 Fall Dividend