Experienced grower's notes on Allium

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Allium remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is leaving foliage to die back naturally after flowering. Everything else follows from that.

squirrel and mouse predation on newly planted bulbs is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a naturalised lawn planting for a wild spring effect for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. some of the earliest colour in the garden after winter is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. peak spring bulb display from tulips and daffodils is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.