Allium carolinianum Rosy Dream

Allium carolinianum 'Rosy Dream' is an interesting variety of ornamental garlic due to its low height, vigour, and its abundant, almost fluffy, pink-mauve flowering in dense pompoms. It is a decorative bulbous plant, hardy and easy to grow, which blooms in summer. Its medium-sized inflorescences have a great impact in rustic or romantic borders, rockeries, and flower pots. Provide it with a sunny exposure and well-drained soil, and it will form beautiful dense clumps over time.

Allium carolinianum is a wild garlic native to the mountains of Central and Southern Asia (Himalayas), where it grows on sunny slopes up to 5000m (16404ft) altitude. Like all alliums, it belongs to the large Amaryllidaceae family. The 'Rosy Dream' cultivar has been selected for its more compact habit and pinker flowers. It develops from a small egg-shaped bulb measuring up to 2.5cm (1in) in diameter. Each bulb produces remarkable foliage that is ribbon-like, quite wide, very thick, and with a waxy texture. It is particularly decorative when it emerges from the ground at the end of winter. In July-August (sometimes as early as June in mild climates), a floral stem emerges from the bulb, slightly taller than the foliage, about 40cm (16in) high, with a solid and sturdy appearance. At the top of this stem, there is an almost spherical inflorescence of about 5cm (2in) in diameter, composed of about 100 flowers. Each small flower has 6 pink-mauve petals. The foliage usually dries out just before or at the beginning of flowering. A hot and not too humid summer, as well as a dry winter, are guarantees of success for the cultivation of this somewhat capricious plant, which seems, however, quite hardy.

Allium 'Rosy Dream' is not one of the easiest to grow, but it will delight amateur gardeners who love rare and beautiful plants. It works wonders in raised beds, rockeries, or borders (in well-drained soil). It can also be grown in pots to enjoy its beautiful flowering on a balcony or patio. Plant it in groups of 5 that you can slip between low ornamental grasses or among low-growing plants such as perennial geraniums, catmints, or agastaches, for example. It can also accompany ground-cover roses and bellflowers in a small romantic bed.

Small vegetable garden tip: plant some ornamental garlic in the middle of strawberries to protect them from fungal diseases; they will add a few pleasant blooms that are sometimes lacking among vegetables.