Winter is almost over and in less than a month, spring is officially here. The change of the seasons also means the introduction of our 2020 spring assortment.  Part of this assortment is of course the lovely Allium. In this product profile we tell you more about the ‘origin story’ of this flower and we show a couple of Allium varieties supplied by our partners at All I Am. 

Origin

Allium is a beautiful addition to just about any bouquet. Or make a true statement by placing just a bunch of Alliums in a tall vase; who can resist this gorgeous blossoming floral orb? The flowers will last a very long time and there is a massive variety in colour, height and shape. But be aware, treat the Allium with a tender touch: when the stem is damaged or cut, the flower will spread a slightly unpleasant union/garlic scent. To solve this 'issue', just place the stem in water directly after cutting it. 

This scent gives away the origin of the Allium: this flower is a member of the union family and is nicknamed 'Ornamental Union'.  The meaning of Allium is actually quite tragic. There are sources saying that the word ‘Allium’ comes from the Greek word ‘aleo’, meaning ‘to dodge’. The Latin translation is a little bit better, where ‘Allium’ means ‘garlic’.
 

Mythology

The Allium as a species (this includes leeks, garlic and union) has had many purposes throughout history. Consumption is of course the most popular usage, for centuries people have been consuming leeks, garlic and onions. Ancient Egyptians were so enthusiastic about the union, that they even wrote and drew about this vegetable on the walls. They also saw the allium-orb as a symbol of the universe.

The Allium species have been appreciated for their medicinal qualities as well, such as reducing fevers and cleaning out wounds. Especially the onion is supposed to be good for your health in certain cases:  Do you have a cold? – Cut an onion in half and put this on your bedside table. Suffering from a nasty fever? – Drink some onion tea!  Wish to cleanse your body? – Put an onion in your sock at night. 

In folklore, stories have been going around about garlic being very effective against vampires and other lurking creatures. Since there have been no reports of these fairytale monsters actually murdering people, we have no other option but to assume that garlic is indeed a very effective method of repelling these beings. 

Back to Allium or the ‘Ornamental onion’ that we came to cherish and love: Somewhere in all of this madness, gardeners started appreciating the beauty of certain Allium species. They started planting, nourishing and cultivating Alliums, creating hundreds of cultivars across the world.  Since then, the popularity and decorative value of Allium (the ornamental union) has been on the rise. 
 

Availability 

Our Allium assortment is supplied by our partners from All I am.  The Allium season begins in January with a few varieties and usually ends around November.  The All I Am assortment includes numerous varieties that come in a wide range of colours, sizes and shapes. We show just a few down below, please keep in mind that the availability of these varieties can vary on a daily basis. 

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Some of the Allium varieties from the All I Am selection: