Allium 'Millenium' – 'Millenium' Ornamental Onion

'Millenium' Ornamental Onion is an exceptional perennial, named "2018 Perennial Plant of the Year" for its flawless performance and beauty. Its main benefit is offering a striking colour show in mid to late summer, a time when many other perennials are starting to fade. It produces a profusion of purple floral spheres above foliage that, unlike many other ornamental onions, remains green and attractive all season long.

Characteristics

• Foliage: It forms a dense, neat clump of deciduous leaves that resemble wide blades of grass. The foliage, dark green and glossy, releases a light onion scent when crushed and stays beautiful all summer.
• Flowering: In the heart of summer (July-August), dozens of sturdy flower stems rise above the foliage. Each stem is topped with a 5 cm (2-inch) spherical inflorescence, densely packed with small, starry, rosy-purple flowers.
• Light: It thrives and flowers most abundantly in full sun, but adapts to partial shade.
• Habit: It forms a mounded, bushy clump of foliage with very straight, upright flower stems.
• Growth: With a medium growth rate, it reaches a height of 40 to 50 cm (15-20 inches) in bloom, with a spread of 25 to 40 cm (10-15 inches).
• Soil: It grows well in average, even poor soil, but requires excellent drainage. It does not tolerate constantly wet soils.
• Hardiness: Very hardy, it faces Zone 4 winters without any problem.
• Resistance: This robust plant admirably resists White-tailed deer and rabbits thanks to its light onion scent.

Uses

• Types of Use: Its neat shape and late flowering make it an excellent choice for the front or middle of sunny borders. It is magnificent in mass plantings, rock gardens, or in containers.
• Ornamental Features: Its globe-shaped flowers add a unique architectural texture and form to the summer garden. The dried flower heads remain decorative for a long time and offer winter interest.

Care

• Watering: Water at planting. Once established, it tolerates drought very well and only requires occasional watering during heatwaves.
• Fertilizing: It generally requires no fertilization and performs well in poor soil.
• Pruning: Its maintenance is minimal. It is not necessary to deadhead the flowers, as the dried spheres are attractive. Cut the foliage back to the ground in late fall or spring.
• Planting: Plant it in the spring or fall in a sunny location with impeccable drainage.
• Winter Protection: No protection is required for this very hardy perennial. Good drainage is the only key to its winter survival.