Allium 2014

[YT]

Allium thunbergii 'Ogawa-nishiki'. Found and collected in its wild habitat at Hirado-jima (Hirado island), Nagasaki, Japan.

[WimB]

Allium thunbergii 'Ogawa-nishiki'. Found and collected in its wild habitat at Hirado-jima (Hirado island), Nagasaki, Japan.

Beautiful, Tatsuo! Very delicate flower with nice colouring!

[YT]

Thank you, Wim!

[TheOnionMan]

I agree Wim!  Tatsuo, indeed a lovely form of thunbergii, and beautiful photographs too.

In full bloom now if Allium kiiense (syn. A. virgunculae var. kiiense), another autumn-blooming delight.

[YT]

Your another Japanese native one made a good bunch, Mark

[TheOnionMan]

Your another Japanese native one made a good bunch, Mark

Tatsuo, I had to keep this nice colony of Allium kiiense surrounded with a wire fence, the rabbits here love to eat onions.  I take the fence off for photographs or to enjoy the view when I'm outside working.

[WimB]

I agree Wim!  Tatsuo, indeed a lovely form of thunbergii, and beautiful photographs too.

In full bloom now if Allium kiiense (syn. A. virgunculae var. kiiense), another autumn-blooming delight.

Nice group, Mark. Beautiful plants too, have to look into those Japanese Alliums some more it seems.

[TheOnionMan]

Nice group, Mark. Beautiful plants too, have to look into those Japanese Alliums some more it seems.

Thanks Wim, the plants look pretty much the same today, still in full flower, although a cold rainy day about 3C.  Last year didn't get seed, serious freezing whether arrived early November and stayed. Not sure if this one can set seed here, it flowers so late.

[Mini bulb lover]

My Allium caeruleum has produced bubils for the past 2 years, instead of flowers. Is there a way to force them to flower? I've been growing them in pots in a free draining mix. I've read they like a dry, warm position but then members here have said they grow them in moist conditions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Maggi Young]

Just reading this, Jon, it strikes me that the plants may be under stress in pot culture and so going into maximum reproduction mode, so making the bulbils instead of flowers.  I'll be interested to hear what the Onion specialists think.