Sounds like you are describing bulbils, not seeds. If planted they have a normal cycle of bulbil to round (immature undivided bulb) to mature and flowering bulb, and depending on the species that can take from only a single year to several years for the cycle to complete. The bulbil is genetically identical to the parent plant unlike the seed which has a genetic resort as part of its development process. Alliums tend to produce one or the other, but not generally both bulbils and seeds at the same time from the same flower scape.

You are right--those little black balls are seeds. They are on the end of the stems where the flowers were, right? Yes, you can plant them. Yes, they will grow. They won't flower the first year and can take several years.

In answer to the critters...it often depends on the critter. I know allium is deer-resistant, but I'm not certain about anything else. Most animals don't like that garlic/onion flavor and they look for something else. I don't think it would hurt to plant them in tulips.

I've planted Sensation Allium and Nigrum Allium and some have come up in the spring, but none have bloomed yet from seed.

Heidi

here's some pictures of the little seeds I'm talking about. These are the smaller pretty blue allium, which I just HAVE to buy more of this fall. I love them..............

Black seeds, inside the husks, sure enough looks like it.

Sue, I am curious ... did the seeds take? Also, which allium is it - it sounds lovely? A. Caeruleum?

Also, did it spread naturally at all? Just curious - thanks!