The Perfect Perennial For Neat Garden Edges And A Burst Of Summer Color

It's not often you come across a perennial that has a lovely, neat growth habit without too much intervention, but will also stun you with a glorious burst of summer color that bees and butterflies will be absolutely drawn to. Such is the case with Allium 'Millenium' which was named as Perennial Plant of the Year back in 2018 by the Perennial Plant Association. It's a remarkable ornamental onion that has the most eye-catching rose-purple, globe-shaped blooms on slender stems that rise above the deep green strappy leaves, making it one of several perennials that bloom with gorgeous purple flowers. Thanks to Its tidy growth habit, it's just perfect for creating neat garden edges that will look beautiful, even without the presence of the blooms.

'Millenium' Allium can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 and only reaches a height of around 1 foot. You'll appreciate the dark green grassy leaves that are both neat and attractive and the stunning flowers that will fill your garden edges with superb summer color, as these typically bloom in late summer. Better yet, these outstanding flowers will last for around one month and are regarded as a pollinator magnet. You'll also find that this pretty plant is both heat and drought-tolerant, making it ideal for gardeners who appreciate a low-maintenance yard that's also bursting with color.

Like other members of the onion family, the bulbs of 'Millenium' Allium should be planted in the fall, before the ground has a chance to freeze. If you've never grown these before, you might want to familiarize yourself with how deep you should be planting Allium bulbs in the garden. These hybrids do best in full sun, although in hotter regions, they can benefit from some afternoon shade. You'll find that the plants will form larger clumps over time as their rhizomatous stems spread horizontally. But don't worry, they should only need dividing every three or four years if the clumps get too large or crowded. This is best done once the foliage has died down.

Apart from removing this spent foliage, 'Millennium' Allium has no other maintenance needs. While this variety produces fewer seeds than other species in the Allium family, if you don't want it to self-seed, then you can just remove the spent flower heads. As a final bonus, this plant is both rabbit and deer resistant, thanks to its onion-like aroma and strong taste. You might even find that you can keep voles from eating your other bulbs by planting this beautiful purple flower along your garden edges and borders.