ALLIUM (Alliaceae)
Ornamental onion |
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 Allium acuminatum
~ A starburst of relatively large, rose-magenta flowers – whose tips taper and flair like the points of a jester's hat – radiates from 10-inch stems in early summer. Although one of the most beautiful and familiar of the West-Coast species, it all too seldom appears in commerce. Sun and well-drained soil are musts. Mediterranean/steppe/montane; Arizona to British Columbia. Zone 5.
link to google.com images
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1/$5
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| Allium aflatunense wild form
~ Bearing dense, bright-violet umbels on 4-foot stems, this clone – originating with a bulb collected by Janis Ruksans in the Chaktal Range of Uzbekistan – is a far departure (and a refreshing one at that) from the mass market material sold under this name. Steppe; Uzbekistan. Zone 5.
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1/$5
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Allium altissimum
'Goliath' ~ An allium with altitude, and truly the giant of the
genus, flaunting dense, 5-inch spheres of lilac-purple atop towering 5-
to 6-foot scapes in May and June. Remarkable. It reaches its greatest
heights in well-drained, rich soil. Steppe; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$7.50
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| Allium amphibolum
~ Dense, 2-inch spheres of lilac-pink – abristle with protruding anthers – provide a beguiling display in early summer. At a foot tall, it's a good size for the rock garden or the front line of the perennial border – or anywhere it can receive the adulation it deserves. Steppe/montane; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$7.50
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 Allium caesium
~ Fragrant sky-blue domes – reminiscent of those of the more common,
later-blooming, and rangier A.
caeruleum – perch
atop 15-inch stems in late May and early June. Requires
sharp drainage and protection from
excess summer moisture. Steppe; Kazakhstan. Zone 5.Enter quantity:
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1/$10
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| Allium christophii wild form
~ These bulbs, grown from wild-collected seed, are a great way to get a new take on this familiar species, with its immense heads of starry purple flowers that give the impression of something pyrotechnic, like a chrysanthemum firework or a Fourth of July sparkler. Steppe; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$5
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| Allium cupuliferum
~ The flowerheads of this beautiful species undergo a fascinating metamorphosis, opening as tight, featherduster umbels, which – as the flower pedicels lengthen – gradually transmute into skyrocketing pincushions of dusky-pink on 2-foot scapes. Its rarity in the trade stems from its laggardliness in propagation (we offer seed-grown bulbs). Steppe/montane; C Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$12
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Allium jesdianum
'Michael H. Hoog' ~ Tall (to 40 inches), wide (with umbels up
to 6 inches across), and handsome, this Janis Ruksans selection is also
one of the most precocious and floriferous clones of this eximious
species. The light-violet drumsticks appear in late May.
Steppe/montane; Tajikistan. Zone 4.
link to google.com images
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1/$3
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Allium lenkoranicum
~ Globular buds open into straw-yellow flowers with deep purple midstripes in mid to late summer on 12- to 16-inch stems. A unique and curiously striking plant. Steppe/montane; Azerbaijan. Zone 5.
link to google.com images
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1/$3.50
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| Allium litwinowii
~ We have a thing for blue alliums, which means we HAD to have this thing, perhaps the most beautiful of the bunch. Dense, violet-tinged, luminous blue domes on relatively compact stems (15 inches) provide a cyanean exclamation point in late spring. As with all the blue onions, sun and good drainage are non-negotiable. Steppe/montane; Uzbekistan. Zone 5.
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1/$18
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Allium macleanii
~ That we have in our possession some bulbs of this splendid cephalic allium has us identifying somewhat with its former specific epithet – elatum. The enormous purple globes (it's no surprise that this is closely allied with A. giganteum and is a parent of 'Globemaster') ascend on 3-foot stems in late spring and early summer. Give it lots of sun and a not-too-heavy soil. Steppe; Afghanistan to SW Asia. Zone 5.
link to google.com images
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1/$4.50
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 Allium nevskianum ~ In
the mode of – but in every way superior to – A .
karataviense, this rarely offered beauty bears large,
short-stemmed umbels of red-purple flowers in May above broad, paired,
blue-green basal leaves. A better "doer" than its familiar cousin.
Steppe/montane; Tajikistan. Zone 5.
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1/$11 |
 Allium obliquum
~
Whereas purple drumstick alliums are a dime a dozen, this is the only
one we know of whose flowers – borne in 1.5-inch umbels – are
pale-yellow. Factor in its relatively late bloom season (June and July)
and its tolerance of heavy soils and summer moisture, and you’ve got an
onion to be reckoned with. It's a favorite here. Modified
continental/continental/steppe;
Romania to NW China. Zone 4.Enter
quantity: |
1/$6.50 |
 Allium oreophilum
'Agalik Giant' ~ A. oreophilum,
writ large. In
every way – size,
intensity of color, form – it far outstrips any of its cultivated kind
that have
gone before. The showy, deep carmine-rose flowers strut their stuff in
June. Montane/steppe; C Asia. Zone 4.Enter
quantity: |
1/$9 |
 Allium paradoxum var. normale
~ Not the weedy bulbil-slinger usually encountered under this epithet,
but a beautiful, well-mannered variety dangling as many as ten
snow-white bell-flowers from each 8- to 12-inch scape in March and
April. One of the few alliums that prefer partial shade and accept
heavy soil, it self-sows generously in mild-winter climates but only
sparsely in colder districts. It's almost – are you ready? –
paranormal (sorry, we couldn't resist). Modified continental; Caucasus
to N Iran. Zone 6 (5 or lower in a sheltered site). AM
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1/$2 |
Allium pendulinum
~ Very close to the alluring A. triquetrum, and like that species favoring partial shade and moist woodsy soil, this beauty differs in that its white, green-midribbed flowers occur in a symmetrical rather than a one-sided umbel. Mediterranean; S Central Europe. Zone 5.
link to google.com images
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1/$11
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Allium pskemense
~ What a whimsical, jolly onion. The 3-inch-wide, dense, white umbels perch like oversized fuzzy golfballs on chubby, blue-green, 2-foot stems, which with their bulging lower midriffs look uncannily (to our perhaps overactive imaginations) like perambulating great blue herons. The bulbs spread slowly by rhizomes to form a loose clump. Sun and good drainage are best. Steppe; C Asia. Zone 4.
link to bogos.uni-osnabrueck.de
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1/$12
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Allium robustum
~ Onion guru Mark McDonough is among those (including us) who are quite taken with this recently introduced and brightly hued cousin of A. atropurpureum. Two-inch domes of currant-red flowers top 2-foot stems in June. Steppe; Kazhakstan to W China. Zone 5.
link to google.com images
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1/$15
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 Allium rosenbachianum
~ Here we have the Real McCoy – not one ofthe imposters usually traded under this name. Large (up to 5-inch-wide) globes of luminous, deep violet-purple crown 24- to 30-inch scapes in late May and early June, over broad, bright-green basal leaves which are arresting in their own right (as our photo attests). Zounds. Requires sun and good drainage. Steppe/montane; Tajikistan. Zone 5.
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1/$9
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Allium sarawschanicum
'Chinoro' ~ The vivid, deep-purple flowers – arrayed in airy,
4-inch umbels – of this recent introduction are among the most
eye-catching and elegant of the genus. Their June display (on 2-foot
stems) is one of the highlights of the late spring/early summer border.
Steppe; Tazhikistan. Zone 4.
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1/$6.50 |
| Allium stipitatum
'Glory of Pamir' (RM.8267) ~ Among the best tall alliums, bearing
fragrant, 4.5-inch spheres of
purple-pink on 3- to 4-foot scapes in June. Established bulbs
often produce multiple blooms. "A most attractive species, completely
hardy and thriving in nearly all soils," say Jellitto and Schacht.
Montane/steppe; central Asia. Zone 4. Enter
quantity: |
1/$6
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| Allium tolmiei var. platyphyllum ~ This is one of the hardiest of the many beautiful broad-leaved alliums (a la A. falcifolium) from the western U.S. Heads of celestial pink flowers appear in late spring on 6-inch stems. This has proven to be quite winter- and summer-hardy in our nursery.
Montane/steppe; Idaho to N California. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$6
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Allium victorialis 'Cantabria'
~ With broad, handsome leaves resembling our native wild leek (A. tricoccum), accompanied in summer by clusters of green-tinged white flowers on sturdy 20-inch stems, this is a wonderful ornamental onion for light shade. Modified continental/montane; Europe to N Asia. Zone 5.
link to plantbuzz.com
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Allium victorialis 'Kemerovo'
~ This equally worthy form of the species is somewhat slighter than the above in all its parts. Modified continental/montane; Europe to N Asia. Zone 5.
link to plantbuzz.com
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 Allium winklerianum
~ New and novel, this recently introduced species,
with large, violet-purple flowers borne in dense, showy, 2-inch umbels
on 18- to 24-inch stems in late spring, is one of the hottest of the
onions (as in gorgeous and au courant ). Sun and good drainage
required. Steppe/montane; Uzbekistan. Zone 5.
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1/$12 |
 Allium 'Globus'
~ A hybrid with pedigree and the looks to prove it,
here's what resulted when Allium karataviense and A.
stipitatum got together. The large, pale mauve spheres
appear in late spring on compact, 20-inch stems, making it an ideal
subject for juxtaposing with statelier onions. Zone 5.Enter
quantity: |
1/$3.50
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ANEMONE (Ranunculaceae)
Windflower |
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| Anemone appenina 'Petrovac'
~ A splendid, robust, rich deep lavender-blue selection of a species that's closely related to the Greek windflower, A. blanda, and like it is ideally suited for massing and naturalizing. The many-petaled flowers appear on 4- to 6-inch stems in April and May above dense foliage. It prefers part-shade and reasonable drainage. Mediterranean/modified continental; S Europe. Zone 6. Enter quantity: |
1/$6 |
| Anemone blanda 'Ingramii'
~ This is certainly among the most stunning selections of the species, bearing bright rich lavender-blue flowers – the deepest blue of any cultivar we've seen – rather early in the blanda season. An outstanding and vigorous plant, and still exceedingly rare in the trade. It prefers the light shade and decent drainage characteristic of the rocky scrub it calls home, and will self-sow where happy. Mediterranean; Albania to Lebanon. Zone 5. AGM Enter quantity: |
1/$7.50 |
 Anemone jeniseejensis
~ In mid-spring this very charming and exceedingly rare little sprite produces bright-yellow flowers and delicate, lacy leaves from a network of short, slender rhizomes. We are perhaps the only U.S. source of this lovely thing. Modified
continental/continental; C Russia. Zone 5.
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1/$6 |
| Anemone nemorosa
'Allenii'
~ It may be an old-timer, but it's still unsurpassed among the
cultivars of European wood anemone. Large, deep lavender-blue flowers
with purple reverses debut in April and continue into May. A rarely
available classic for the woodland garden. Maritime/modified
continental/continental; Europe to NW Asia. Zone 5. AGM
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1/$4 |
| Anemone nemorosa
'Royal Blue'
~ The inch-wide flowers are indeed of a regal, almost luminous deep-blue, with a rose-purple reverse. The foliage is compact and dark green. A wonderful selection. Maritime/modified
continental/continental; Europe to NW Asia. Zone 5.
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1/$9 |
| Anemone nemorosa
'Vestal' ~ The 'Vestal' version of the double-flowered European wood anemones bears dapper, intricately fashioned, pure-white (what other kind of white would you expect from a vestal version?) pompons in mid-spring. Somehow "pompons" seems at odds with the other imagery going on here, but that's the best we can come up with at this moment. Maritime/modified continental/continental; Europe to NW Asia. Zone 5. AGM
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1/$4.50 |
ARISAEMA (Araceae)
Jack in the pulpit; cobra lily |
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| Arisaema amurense
~ An Asian analog to our native Jack-in-the-pulpit (A. triphyllum), this delightful woodlander holds its purple-and-white-striped spathes on 4-inch stems beneath a five-segmented, purple-stemmed leaf in early spring. It is easily grown in partial, not-too-dry shade. Modified continental/continental; SE Russia to NE China. Zone 4. Enter
quantity: |
1/$15
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 Arisaema candidissimum
~ Perhaps the queen
of this many-splendored tribe, producing violet-scented, white-striped,
ivory spathes and bold, tripartite leaves very
late in the season, in June or July. The green spadix bears orange
fruits in late summer. It prefers leafy soil and
partial shade, and may benefit from being planted on a layer of grit or fine gravel. Montane/subtropical; C China. Zone 5. AGMEnter
quantity: |
1/$18
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 Arisaema ciliatum
~ Usually going (incorrectly) under the moniker A. consanguineum
, this stoloniferous species produces handsome, long-tailed,
maroon-striped spathes in May and June on mottled, 10- to 15-inch
stems. The spoked leaves perch like parasols above the flowers.
Montane/subtropical; W China. Zone 6.Enter
quantity: |
1/$10 |
| Arisaema fargesii
~ Although its bold trifoliate leaves betray its close alliance with A candidissimum, this striking cobra lily differs markedly from that species in its long-necked, elongated spathe, which is further distinguished by the downturned "collar" at its throat, its bold purple and white stripes, and its tapering, drooping, long-tailed hood. Its leaves turn a nice amber-yellow in fall, contributing to the autumn garden. Protect it from hot sun and provide it decent drainage and it will form a lusty, long-lived, 2-foot-tall clump. Modified continental/continental/montane; SE Russia to NE China. Zone 4. Enter
quantity: |
1/$18
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| Arisaema ovale
~ The Japanese version of A amurense (with which it was once included as subspecies robustum) differs from same in its much larger size (up to 3 feet tall) and its darker purple, white-ribbed spathes which arch at their tips. It likes some shade and adequate drainage. Maritime/montane/modified continental; Japan. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$15
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| Arisaema tortuosum
~ Ah, those aroids – always up to something outlandish, if not downright scandalous. In this case the gawk-worthy feature is the improbably long spadix, which describes an s-cuve and defies gravity as it ascends as many as 12 inches above the pale green spathe, appearing for all the world like the tail of some unsavory creature. This all happens in early summer atop a leafy, very tall (up to 6 feet), very pythonesque pseudostem. What will they think of next. It needs some shade and humusy soil to be at its bizarre best. Montane/subtropical; Himalayas to Burma. Zone 6. Enter
quantity: |
1/$18
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ARUM (Araceae)
Lords and ladies; cuckoo pint |
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| Arum elongatum ~ An arum for the fore-border or rock garden, in spring sending up a less-than-stately 8-inch purple spathe that shades to a greenish-white flame at its center (with a velvety purple spadix). The pseudostem doubles in length as the season progresses, in autumn displaying a cob of bright-red fruit. Modified continental; E Europe. Zone 5. Enter
quantity:
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1/$10
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| Arum korolkowii ~ Arums join fritillarias in being among the few plants that can do something utterly arresting in green and brown. In this rarely offered species, the apple-green, remarkably narrow, boat-shaped spathe cups a Typha-esque, cinnamon-brown,
truncheon-shaped spadix. One of the classiest and most fetching arums (it's even odorless). Adequate drainage is essential to its continuing existence in your garden.
Steppe; C Asia. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$15
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| Arum pictum ~ Not to be
confused with A. italicum 'Pictum', this striking and indispensable plant departs from that and all others of its genus by flowering in fall. The spathes — purple-spotted outside and satiny midnight-purple inside — and the purple-black, dung-scented spadix appear with or slightly before the polished, dark-green, silver-veined leaves. Good drainage required. Mediterranean; NW Mediterranean. Zone 7. Enter
quantity:
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1/$15
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BELLEVALIA (Hyacinthaceae)
False grape hyacinth |
|
 Bellevalia romana ~ A
favorite around here, this quiet charmer produces loose, conical
clusters of white, green-tinged bell-flowers on 6- to 10-inch stems
from April to May. The scapes nestle among arching, 8- to 12-inch
leaves. Informal in air; delightful planted in naturalistic drifts or
interwoven with its grape-hyacinth cousins. Mediterranean; S France to
Greece. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$0.60 |
BIARUM (Araceae)
Dwarf dragon arum |
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| Biarum marmarisense ~ A sweet dumpling of an aroid, whose 4-inch, chubby, pink-freckled, off-white, hooded, pleasantly scented, pitcher-shaped spathes squat directly on the ground in late fall. Sun and good drainage required. Mediterranean; NW Turkey. Zone 7. Enter
quantity:
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1/$10 |
| Biarum tenuifolium f. abbreviatum ~ An evil sibling of the above, both in scent and in appearance, with a narrow, furled, green and purple spathe, like a rolled dragon's tongue, from which emerges the cow-pie-scented purple spadix. Delightfully grotesque. Mediterranean; Italy to N Greece. Zone 7. Enter
quantity: |
1/$12 |
BULBOCODIUM (Liliaceae)
Spring meadow saffron |
|
 Bulbocodium vernum (Colchicum vernum) ~ March (and spring) would not be complete for us
without the
cyclamen-pink, starry, slightly disheveled blooms of this little
charmer.
Strap-shaped leaves emerge with the 2- to 3-inch flowers, then elongate
after bloom. Native to alpine meadows, it likes spring moisture,
humusy, well-drained soil, and periodic division. Montane; Pyrenees to
Carpathians. Zone 3/4.Enter
quantity: |
1/$2.50 |
CALOSCORDUM (Alliaceae)
Beautiful garlic |
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| Caloscordum neriniflorum ~ Any hardy bulb that produces 3-inch-wide umbels of zingy pink flowers on 10-inch scapes in late summer should be a garden staple. That this charmer is not may result from its generic name, which brings to mind the thuggish genus Nothoscordum, or perhaps from its specific epithet, which by invoking the subtropical genus Nerine also raises possible doubts regarding hardiness. Not to fear. It's very well behaved, and it's quite hardy enough for most parts of the U.S. Continental; E Siberia to China. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$6 |
CAMASSIA (Liliaceae)
Wild hyacinth; quamash |
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 Camassia cusickii 'Zwanenburg' ~ One of the few selections of this fine Northwest native, offering larger, deeper-blue flowers than the type, borne in May and June along 24- to 30-inch scapes. A meadow-dweller, doing well in fertile, organic-rich soil kept moist in spring, and looking well by water.
Steppe; NE Oregon. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$5 |
| Camassia leichtlinii 'Alba' ~ This is one of those nomenclatural oddities – a named white-flowered "selection" of a white-flowered species (the blue-flowered members of the species properly belonging under subspecies suksdorfii.) But it's too lovely a thing to waste time quibbling over. Handsome creamy-white flowers hover in long, open spikes on 3-foot stems in late spring. Steppe/maritime; NW US. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$3 |
X CHIONOSCILLA (Liliaceae)
Snowsquill |
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 X Chionoscilla allenii ~ We offer here
an outstanding clone of this rarely available and highly meritorious
hybrid, whose one-sided racemes of starry, inch-wide, solid blue
flowers combine the best of Chionodoxa forbesii and
Scilla bifolia. One of the best bulbs for late winter/early spring
display, "deserving of wider use" (Jelitto & Schacht).
Mediterranean. Zone 4. Enter
quantity: |
1/$6 |