Allium 'Millenium'

Allium 'Millenium': Late Summer Pom-Poms Over Tidy Leaves

Rose-purple pompoms over glossy foliage that stays sharp all season, long after the spring bulbs have quit. 'Millenium' handles drought, deer and rabbits like they're nothing. Y2K WHO? IT JUST KEPT GOING.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Allium 'Millenium'
• Common Name: Ornamental Onion
• Height: 30–50 cm (12–20 in)
• Spread: 25–38 cm (10–15 in)
• Flowers: Round, rose-purple clusters about 5 cm (2 in) across on strong stems
• Bloom Time: Mid to late summer (July to August)
• Foliage: Glossy, deep green, grass-like leaves in a tidy clump that stays good-looking all season
• Features: Rabbit resistant, Perennial Plant of the Year® 2018

Where to Plant: Use it to edge a sunny border, line a path, or fill the front of a bed. It also works in rock gardens and containers. Its leaves stay neat through the season, so it can sit right up front.

Companion Plants: Persicaria 'Dimity' makes a low pink carpet from June to September in front of the purple heads. Hemerocallis EveryDaylily™ Cream® adds soft cream flowers at a similar height from June to September. Eupatorium 'Chocolate' rises behind to 120 cm and opens white flowers from August to October. All three suit full sun or partial sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. It tolerates a bit of shade but blooms best with at least six hours of sun. Avoid soggy soil, which can cause bulb rot. Water through the first season, then only in long dry spells. Deadhead to tidy the plant and limit seedlings, though it isn't an aggressive self-seeder. Cut the foliage back once it dies down in late fall. Divide every few years in spring or fall if the clump gets crowded.

History: 'Millenium' was bred by Mark McDonough, an allium enthusiast nicknamed "Mr. Onion", from several generations of breeding with Allium nutans in the mix, and Plant Delights Nursery introduced it in 2000. The Perennial Plant Association named it the 2018 Perennial Plant of the Year®.

Final Thoughts: Plant it along a sunny edge and let the butterflies queue up. It stays tidy all season. BUILT FOR THE NEXT THOUSAND SUMMERS.