Allium schubertii Arctic Snow

Allium schubertii 'Arctic Snow' is an ornamental onion that produces spectacular white inflorescences. This fabulous variety offers an umbel that can reach 30 cm in diameter in early summer, resembling a fireworks display. Wonderful in contemporary or natural-inspired scenes, these flowers are exceptional in bouquets. Plant the bulbs in full sun, in any light and well-drained soil, even quite poor and dry in summer.

Allium schubertii 'Arctic Snow' now belongs to the amaryllidaceae family. It is a horticultural selection with white flowers derived from the Schubert onion nicknamed the fireworks onion. The latter is a botanical species native to the Middle East. This plant is edible in all its parts, from the bulb to the flowers that can be used to decorate and flavour summer salads.

With rapid growth, Allium 'Arctic Snow' will reach 40 to 45 cm in height when flowering, and will spread on the ground by multiplying bulbs. Flowering takes place between late May and July, depending on the climate, in the form of very large umbels, measuring between 25 and 30 cm in diameter. Each umbel is composed of 30 to 50 small star-shaped flowers with 6 petals, carried by green pedicels of varying sizes, all radiating from a central point. They produce capsules that remain decorative for a long time after pollination by insects. The foliage consists of long, green, simple, basal, linear, sessile leaves with an entire margin and parallel veins. The leaves disappear in November at the latest and often as early as August in hot and dry climates. It is as a bulb that the plant then survives the winter.

Use the 'Arctic Snow' ornamental onion as a focal point in a contemporary or naturalistic border. It will express its full potential in large groups of at least 10 to 15 bulbs. In a border, plant its bulbs among white, mauve, pink or red valerian, with Vanity Buenos Aires Verbena and Powis Castle artemisias, for example. In a border, place this allium at the back of a row of boxwood balls or well-trimmed germander. It will be spectacular on a river of black gravel. In any situation, the decorative effect of this plant is guaranteed! Create beautiful pots that will be decorative from spring to autumn. Its inflorescences are also used in bouquets. To attenuate the scent of the flowers, for example, add a drop of bleach to the vase water or change it very regularly. It will also be a major element in durable dried compositions.