Pink Giant Allium
Allium schoenoprasum 'Pink Giant'
Plant Height: 12 inches
Flower Height: 18 inches
Spread: 6 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Other Names: Giant Flowered Chives, Common Chives
Description:
This is a large flowered variety of common chives; mound of grassy powder blue foliage with big pink balls of color rising above in late spring; flowers and leaves are edible; great in containers or along borders
Ornamental Features
Pink Giant Allium has masses of beautiful balls of lightly-scented pink flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its fragrant grassy leaves remain powder blue in color throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Pink Giant Allium is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Invasive
- Self-Seeding
Pink Giant Allium is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Herb Gardens
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Pink Giant Allium will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 6 inches. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Pink Giant Allium is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.