I haven't planted Allium flowers, but many of my daffs and tulips, that I just planted last fall, also had very short stalks. They flowered fine, but on less than 6 inch stalks.

I was told that the first year bulbs flower they'll often have short stalks, and it should right itself the year after.

Not sure about the leaves, though. Sorry.

Lilacs_of_may,

what a great name you have chosen! Love it!
Thank you for responding. I am hopeful now that next year my Globes will "grow up".

Have a great weekend,
Natalie

Outinthegardenallday,
on the subject of planting alliums with hostas: I was under impression alliums prefer full sun, and hostas like shade. Unless you use the sun tolerant hosta?

Those seed heads - can the seeds be planted, or they multiply thru bulbs only?

Thank you for your response. I can see you are really passionate about gardening. I can relate to that!

Have a great day,
Natalie

All of our hosta get about 5 hours of sun a day. They get shade from our neighbor's maple tree towards the end of the afternoon. The allium get a head start with alot more sun before the maples leafs out. Usually when the maple is fully leafed out, the allium already have their heads and they're good to go.

I have to tell you though that none of my alliums get full sun....at the most it might be 6 hours MAYBE a day. So I guess allium can do well in part sun too then?

I don't think the seed heads will do anything but look pretty. The plants seem to divide by their bulbs. All of my singles, that are now doubles, popped up right next to eachother.

Hope this helps.

Ciao,
OITGAD

Yes, I like the idea of planting hosta underneath of allium. It must cover the unsightly foliage of alliums very well.
Thanks!

Great info. This is the first year I have alliums growing. I wasn't sure how to handle the yellowing foliage. So just leave it alone, right? It doesn't hurt the bulb by cutting off the dried stalk? That was another concern of mine. Thanks so much for all the info.

We planted globemasters for the first time last Fall. They all came up and grew to about 12" with 5-6" flowers. They are in varied bright shade to full sun. Once the stalks and leaves, yellowed, I cut them to ground level. ( Once the greens have yellowed, this means that the nutrients have gone back to the bulb) so, cutting the faded greens is safe. BTW, I took a chance and purchased my bulbs in Walmart... suprisingly, all bloomed!

Next year I am planting lots of low growing flowers under my alliums to cover up yellow foliage.
The good news is rabbits leave them alone. Just this morning I had funerals for another hollyhock... Poor guy - he was so gorgeous! That rabbit must have had a breakfast of his life. Rascal!
There, I feel better after venting. Thanks for listening, I needed that.

I never knew Allium bulbs would multiply since mine, planted at least 5 years ago, never have. I love the big round balls they produce but I would love to see more. Any ideas on how I can encourage the bulbs to multiply?

Globemasters and Gladiators do multiply. My other Alliums don't. I planted them in well drained soil and try not to over water them in summer. The flowers do get smaller as mentioned above. I leave the flower heads on the stalks all summer until the wind blows them away. I get more for the money this way.
{{gwi:22192}}

I'm in southern CT. I planted allium globemasters last spring. The stalks were tall, the heads gigantic. Like OITGAD, mine doubled this year, and were shorter, with smaller heads. I'm wondering if I divide the bulbs in the fall, will the singles go back to full size?? I also hide the foliage with other plants and leave the seed heads to dry on the stalk. BTW, anyone have luck with drumstick allium? Mine flop over and just look messy.
Maureen

I'm chuckling at the post about putting the dried seed heads out in front, and the kids throwing them around. You'll probably have lots of volunteer allium, because the seeds do grow, and they grow well.

I had a bag of collected seed that got left outside and forgotten, and the following Spring had a bag-shaped patch of Allium seedlings to show for it. Each one had a tiny bulb. Mine are re-seeding freely and spreading throughout the front yard.

Want lots of Allium? save seed and plant.

Keep in mind that you don't want to cover that 'unsightly foliage' if you want large flower heads the following year. The plant requires energy from the sun, harnessed via that unsightly foliage, to grow next year's bulb; cover it up too much and the flowers may be stunted or too small. You want to plant surrounding plants so they block your view of the foliage, perhaps, but still allow sunlight to hit the leaves directly for an extended part of the day.