Art Chives - Allium scorodoprasum

Allium scorodoprasum 'Art' is a variety of sand leek that deserves to be discovered by enthusiasts of ornamental garlics. Its inflorescences, slightly perplexing, are irregular heads mixing flowers and bulbils. It is the rose-crimson star-shaped flowers, whose petioles lengthen when they are fertilised, that give this garlic its curious appearance. The hardy bulb develops a sturdy stem that allows the umbel to withstand the wind. A charming and original cut flower, it is vigorous and long-lasting in well-drained, sunny soils.

Native to central Europe, particularly the Caucasus, Allium scorodoprasum is the wild form of rocambole garlic. It is a bulbous plant that prefers light and rather dry soil, with a tendency towards basic (calcareous) and clay soil, low in organic matter (humus, compost).

The 'Art' selection, registered in the Netherlands in 2009, has inflorescences measuring 4 to 5 cm (2in) in diameter, borne between 1 m (3ft) and 1.10 m (4ft) above the ground, on spiralled stems in their upper part. They are globular clusters surrounded by membranous bracts, consisting of bulbils that are initially green and become violet, and small purple star-shaped flowers on the outside, more pink on the inside. This flowering occurs between June and July. The foliage consists of 4 to 6 basal, tubular leaves with a strong sulfur smell. It turns yellow and disappears at the same time as the flowering appears, which is a good adaptation to hot and dry summer conditions. This plant produces only a few seeds and reproduces mainly through the dispersal of bulbils produced on the umbel.

Relatively easy to grow in full sun, Allium 'Art' appreciates any type of fresh soil during its growing period, but always well-drained. It is interesting in flower beds or borders and can also be grown in pots to enjoy its curious flowering on a balcony or patio.  Enhance your bouquets with its fresh or dried flowers, they will bring a modern and unusual touch. Plant it in groups of 5 bulbs that you will slide between medium-sized grasses, tall light perennials like fennel, or near brooms. It will be perfectly at home in a flower meadow, in the company of poppies, corn poppies, love-in-a-mist, and other centaureas. For a graphic effect, combine it with buxus in ball shape. This edible garlic can also be planted in the vegetable garden to supply the cut flower reserve.

In the kitchen: all garlics are edible, in all their parts (bulb, leaves, flavorful flowers, which also decorate dishes and sauces).

Small vegetable garden tip: plant some ornamental garlics in the middle of strawberries to protect them from fungal diseases, they will bring some pleasant flowering that is sometimes missing among the vegetables.