The large flower balls of the ornamental onion simply look great. The attractive flowers also contain a lot of nectar and pollen, which attracts butterflies and bees. But what should you do when the flowering period is coming to an end and the ornamental onion has faded?
What should you do when the ornamental onion has faded?
When the ornamental onion has faded, you can cut off the dried flower stalks or leave them alone. Flower stems left standing produce seeds for self-sowing. After the flowering period, you should no longer water or fertilize ornamental garlic.
What should you do when the ornamental onion has faded?
Many types of ornamental garlic bloom over a longer period of time. The flower stems have faded when they become dry and turn brown. You can cut these stems just above the ground, but you can also leave them over the winter. The dry flower heads still look attractive and are an eye-catcher in the autumn garden. In this way you also ensure that the plants sow themselves.
Cutting off immediately after flowering has no advantages, as it does not stimulate new flower formation. This is what makes Allium species different from many other garden plants. However, you should remove the stems at the latest before new growth appears in spring. After flowering, you should definitely no longer fertilize or water the ornamental onion. In addition, the bulbs of frost-sensitive species must be dug up and overwintered in a frost-proof manner. All other types simply cover with brushwood.
Can you use the collected seeds for sowing?
Instead of uncontrolled self-sowing, you can also harvest the ripe seeds and sow them in another location. Allium seeds are ripe when they are black in color. But be careful: they fall from seed very quickly, which is why you shouldn't take too much time. Sowing with self-collected seeds is possible in spring and autumn, although the plants can also be grown in pots.
When did ornamental onions bloom?
There are an estimated 900 different species and varieties of alliums, all of which bloom at different times. Selected and planted wisely, the ornamental onion can bloom in your garden between April and September.
- Allium amethystinus: July
- Mountain garlic (Allium senescens): July to September
- Bluetongue leek (Allium karataviense): May to June
- Golden leek (Allium moly): June to July
- Honey garlic (Allium siculum): July to August
- Ball garlic (Allium sphaerocephalon): June to August
- Neapolitan leek (Allium cowanii): April to May
- Nodding leek (Allium cernuum): May to June
- Giant leek (Allium giganteum): June to August
- Red allium (Allium oreophilum): May to June
- Star ball garlic (Allium christophii): May to July
Some species only bloom once, others produce new flower heads over a longer period of time. But no matter which variant you choose: the flowering period of the ornamental onion is definitely over when the leaves turn yellow. This yellowing is not a sign of illness, but rather means that the onion is drawing all the nutrients from the above-ground parts of the plant and is thus preparing for winter rest.
Tip
Use spent flower balls for dry bouquets
You don't have to throw away the cut, dried flower stems straight away. Instead, these can be used very well for pretty dry arrangements, for example together with grasses, hydrangeas or straw flowers. What to do when the ornamental onion has faded? The dried, brown flower stalks can be cut off directly above the ground. But you can Also leave it standing, the dry flower balls are still attractive even in autumn.- Flower stalks left standing form seeds for self-sowing.- Do not water or fertilize ornamental onions after the flowering period.