Allium 2012

[Lori S.]

Thanks, Roland.  If I recall correctly now, I think it's 'Globemaster'... does that fit?  Here's another photo of the same plants:


http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/BigBallAlliums

[bulborum]

Here is the picture from the real Allium Globemaster
not sure if yours is Allium Globemaster
My picture is a pour plant

yours looks more as Allium Gladiator
The bulbs are easy to recognise
large and flat , double wide as high

The bad story
Allium Gladiator is often sold as Allium Globemaster or A. giganteum in the trade

Roland

[Lori S.]

The bulbs were planted so long ago that I don't recall the shape... though it certainly sounds memorable and I don't remember planting any alliums that were shaped so unusually ('Gladiator' - "large and flat, double wide as high").  I haven't had any reason to dig them up since, but if I do, I will take note. 

[bulborum]

Globemaster also has a "double" flowerstem
it looks if there are two stems stick together

Roland

[Palustris]

Anyone know anything about Allium loratum. got a pot full of the bulbs, but no cultural, geographical or indeed any information on it?
TIA

[Lori S.]

We might as well post a link to the answer to the same question about A. loratum, posted at SRGC, rather than have anyone have to type it all out again:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8329.msg252566#msg252566

[McDonough]

Just a quick summary for those who might not follow the link, and for added emphasis, Allium loratum, a dwaf high alpine species (10,000-14,000') with white flowers from Tibet and western Himalaya, is NOT in cultivation, although misnamed plants going around under this name are widespread and entrenched in Horticulture for a century.  The plants sold as Allium loratum by the big bulb producers in the Netherlands and specialty bulb growers look like various Melanocrommyum species, much taller and with pink, lavender, to purple flowers.  Oftentimes plants labeled as A. loratum are in fact pinkish-lavender Allium decipiens, a most variable species.  Believers of the horticultural loratum as the true loratum will point to expert bulb growers and well-known and respected bulb producers; but it doesn't matter, the plant in horticulture does not come close to matching the original description.  The leaves of Allium decipiens can be described as "lorate", e.g. having the form of a parallel-edged strap; ligulate, no doubt to some degree responsible for the confusion.

It took nearly a century to correct another misnomer, that of Allium "aflatunense" of horticulture was proven to not be that species, and ultimately the name of A. x hollandicum (and the well known A. x hollandicum 'Purple Sensation') was published to be applied to the plants so well established in horticulture, to make way for the true A. aflatunense.  We still await the true A. loratum to be collected and introduced.

[Palustris]

Cheers. Will just have to see what it is,if and when it flowers. Will give the original supplier earache then. 

[bulborum]

I got this as Allium serra
but I don't believe this is correct

Roland

[McDonough]

Roland, this is a nice dwarf reddish form of European to Central Asian Allium paniculatum; I've grown a number of such forms and they're all very good, easy and floriferous. This reddish flowered form goes around misidentified under many different Allium species names. 

I grew Allium serra for about 6-7 years, but like many of the Western American species I've grown here, it dwindled and finally expired several years ago.  Here's what it looks like:

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Allium+serra

[bulborum]

Ahhh

I thought a few years ago already that it looked as Allium paniculatum
but I know this one just as tall plants over 60cm
Thanks for naming it
I think I label it as Allium paniculatum Dwarf Red

Roland

[Palustris]

This one is for Mark, Many moons ago I got some seed from the NARGS seed exchange. The one which really got me excited was a packet of Allium seeds from the said person. Well they flowered and as promised they were different.
This is one of the nicest colours.
Sadly they do not come true from seed, usually reverting to the original colour of the type and even worse, they are martyrs to rust. I have been trying for the last few years to regrow the different ones without the rust.

[stephenb]

Mark

Do you know people with nice Allium cernuum selections
I have later in the year seeds from white and soft pink ones
I collected three different colours at Head smashed in buffalo jump (Canada)

Roland

Here's a bouquet of most of my cernuums, different colours are now popping up here and there...    .....and, yes, Mark, they are nice enough to eat and were nibbled on for several days in their vase!

[bulborum]

Indians eat them as leeks or chives
maybe you have a few seeds from the different colours
I can send you some seeds from Head smashed in buffalo jump
the seeds from the white form from Head smashed in buffalo jump
no seeds because of the rain

Roland

[stephenb]

Yes, I'll try to save some seed of the different types for you! Would love to have plants that come from Head smashed in buffalo jump