ALLIUM (Alliaceae)
Ornamental onion |
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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 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 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/$5
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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 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 ursinum ~ The European analog to our native wild leek (A. tricoccum), this shade-loving onion is worth growing not only for its heads of white flowers in mid-spring but also for its handsome broad leaves. The leaves and bulbs once figured in the diets of cultures throughout its range. Thus the rash of common names, including bear's garlic and gypsy onion. Modified continental/maritime/Mediterranean; Europe. Zone 5. Enter
quantity: |
1/$6
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 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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| Allium 'Stipineva' ~ Combining the dense umbels and ghostly glaucous leaves of Allium nevskianum with some of the altitude of A.
stipitatum, this is an outstanding and exciting new hybrid. Light purple drumsticks crown 2-foot stems in late spring. Zone 5.
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quantity: |
1/$18
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ANEMONE (Ranunculaceae)
Windflower |
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| 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 |
ARISAEMA (Araceae)
Jack in the pulpit; cobra lily |
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| Arisaema amurense mixed
~ An Asian analog to our native Jack-in-the-pulpit (A. triphyllum), this delightful woodlander holds its 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. This year we offer an assortment of different forms of this variable arisaema, at an unbeatable price. They will vary in the amount of purple coloration on their spathes and petioles. Modified continental/continental; SE Russia to NE China. Zone 4. Enter
quantity: |
1/$4
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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/$16
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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 ciliatum var. liubaense
~ This form of the species is even more richly endowed with purple. It too is stoloniferous. Montane/subtropical; W China. Zone 6. Enter
quantity: |
1/$13 |
| 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/$16
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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
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1/$13
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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/$16
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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/$16
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BULBOCODIUM (Liliaceae)
Spring meadow saffron |
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 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 |
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 |