Decorative bow is also called allium, although in fact it is the name of a whole genus of plants. There are many of its varieties that are used mainly for decorative purposes. Allium can be planted in many ways, and caring for it does not require much effort.
Some varieties of decorative onions can be eaten
Decorative onion blooms for a long time
Variety of decorative onions
What is a decorative bow?
Decorative onion is a plant that is appreciated and grown due to its attractive appearance. It blooms for a long time, and the shapes and colors are very diverse.
The plant is mainly perennial, although annual species are also found. It is used mainly for decorative purposes, but some varieties are also suitable for food - leaves or bulbs can be edible.
Ornamental onions are usually grown outdoors, since belonging to the Onion family makes themselves aware of a specific smell. For the same reason, they prefer to plant it with other plants, to use in landscape design.
Flowers of a decorative onion are small, but usually collected in large inflorescences - spherical or umbrellas. Often there are various shades of pink, purple, violet. The start time and duration of flowering depends on the variety. Using several species and other ornamental plants, you can create a garden of continuous flowering.
Varieties
More than a hundred varieties of decorative onions are known. The following varieties are most popular:
Aflatun Bow
The plant is perennial and mostly decorative. You can eat its leaves in food, but only before flowering. It occurs in May-June, the flowers have a light purple color. The flowers have a star shape. Inflorescences are spherical, flowers are small. In height, the stem can reach 1.5 m, and in diameter - 12 cm. The plant prefers middle and upper mountain zones, it is frost-resistant.
Bulgarian onion
The stem height can reach 90 cm. Flowering occurs at the beginning of summer, the color is purplish-white, the appearance is very spectacular.
Gladiator
Decorative perennial with dark green leaves, edible. The stem can grow up to a meter in height. The flowers have a star shape, the color is blue-lavender, a pleasant sweetish smell. A spherical inflorescence is formed, which can reach a diameter of 20 cm.
Dutch onion
The flower stalk of this decorative perennial can be extended up to 2 m in height. The diameter of the inflorescences reaches 25 cm, the color is white or densely purple.
Blue bow
This species is edible - they use bulbs for food. For decorative purposes, it is used because of blue wide-bell-shaped flowers. In length they reach only 5 mm and form an umbrella of spherical or hemispherical shape. The stem can reach 90 cm in height.
Proud Bow
The plant is perennial, prefers gravelly slopes and the upper mountain zone. The stems grow up to 5-10 cm, the flowers are small, but noteworthy for their pink-purple color. Flowering occurs in July-August.
Gigantic bow
A perennial look, used for decorative purposes, the leaves are edible. The stem height can reach 1.5 m. The color is light purple.
Karatavsky
The stem height of this perennial reaches 15-25 cm, so the inflorescence seems especially large. The color is light pink and purple. As a decorative plant, this species is used not because of flowering, but because of its unusually wide and dense leaves.
Kowani
Perennial attracts with early flowering - it falls on May-June, but lasts only 2-3 weeks. The plant is stunted, the height of the bush rarely exceeds 30-40 cm. Inflorescences have a spherical shape and are very effective. The color is white, the smell is pleasant.
Round-headed
Perennial prefers steppes, slopes and hills. The stem can grow up to 80 cm. Flowering occurs in mid-summer and lasts about a month. Color can be pink, purple, purple. The inflorescences have an oval shape.
Ostrovsky Bow
A short perennial - the height of the stems rarely exceeds 20 cm. The plant attracts with its decorative effect - wide-bell-shaped raspberry flowers with a pleasant smell. The diameter of the inflorescences can reach 10 cm.
Christof's Bow (Star of Persia)
This decorative perennial prefers soft slopes and a lower mountain belt. The stems reach a height of 40 cm, their thickness is 15 cm. The flowers form a ball up to 20 cm in diameter. Their shape is star-shaped, the color is pink-purple or purple-violet. Flowering in June, after it the leaves die off.
Schubert Bow
The birthplace of this perennial is Asia. The plant prefers sands and gravelly slopes of the lower mountain zone. The plant is stunted - the stems in height do not exceed 20-30 cm. The length of the leaves is slightly larger, the shape is linear-lanceolate, width - 2-3 cm. Perianth is star-shaped, white or pinkish in color.
The flowers are located on long pedicels, which reach 10-20 cm in length. Flowering occurs in June.
Moths
A perennial plant that is used for decorative, culinary and medical purposes. Stem height - up to 30 cm, star-shaped and yellow flowers. A bulb with a strong garlic smell is used in food.
Neapolitan onions
The height of the bush reaches 25-35 cm. The flowers are pink and wide-ringed, length - 1-1.5 cm, form a flat or slightly convex inflorescence-umbrella.
Pink onion or roseum
The plant is used only for decorative purposes. The stems can grow up to 40 cm. The flowers are small, can be fawn or pink, form a flat umbrella.
Chameleon
This variety of decorative onions appeared as a result of breeding work. The result was a frost-resistant plant with a long flowering period, which falls on June-August.
The bush reaches a height of 50-60 cm. The inflorescences have a spherical shape, a diameter of 6-7 cm. The flowers are star-shaped, the main color is pastel pink, a bright crimson strip runs through the center of the petal.
Pretty
The height of the plant reaches 50-60 cm. The pedicels are nickel, so the bush is compared with a fountain. The flowers are small, usually purple-purple. Flowering occurs in June, loose umbellate inflorescences are formed.
Chives
In another name it is called speed, bow-sibulet or chisel. The plant is perennial; it is used both for decorative purposes and for food. Onions reach a height of 60 cm. Flowering occurs in May-August, the color - from pale pink to pink-purple.
Chives are grown not only in open ground, but also at home in pots or crates.
Eros
The stem height reaches 30 cm, and the diameter of spherical inflorescences is 10 cm. Flowering occurs in June, the color is diverse - from pink to light lilac.
Unifolium
This variety is also called univalent onions. Its homeland is the extreme west of North America. The height of the stems is small and rarely exceeds 20 cm. The flowers are 1-1.5 cm in diameter of a beautiful bright pink color, sometimes they are white.
Ivory queen
The height of this plant does not exceed 25 m. Flowering occurs in May-June, lasts about 3 weeks. The flowers are light, gather in spherical umbrellas. The attractiveness of this variety of decorative onions is not in flowering, but in the leaves. They are long, wide and corrugated.
Growing conditions
For the cultivation of decorative onions of any variety, the observance of certain conditions is important:
- loose and neutral soil, the optimum level of acidity is 7.0 pH;
- elevation - in the lowlands, rainy weather and melting snow lead to stagnation of water, which is unacceptable for growing decorative onions;
- optimal planting time of early flowering species is autumn, late flowering species is spring from late April;
- sunny section - a sufficient amount of color provides a beautiful coloring of the leaves and more saturated shades during flowering;
- the right neighborhood - nearby you can plant irises, peonies, dolphiniums, poppies.
The site selected for growing decorative onions must be dug up by 20-25 cm. For fertile soil, additional fertilizers are optional. If the soil is loamy or sandy loam, the following fertilizers should be applied in quantities per square meter:
- humus or rotted compost - 5-7 l;
- simple superphosphate - 25-30 g;
- potassium sulfate - 25-30 g, can be replaced with a liter of wood ash.
Landing
Decorative onions multiply in different ways, so there are several options for planting it.
Seeds
When planting a decorative onion with seeds, it should be borne in mind that flowering will occur only after a few years - the specific timing depends on the selected variety. Species with especially large inflorescences can bloom only for 6-7 years.
Seeds of decorative onions can be purchased at the store or prepared independently if such a plant is already on the site. In the second case, planting material must be collected from the earliest and largest inflorescences. They need to be selected in advance, but to collect seeds only after flowering and their full maturation.
Features of sowing seeds of decorative onions depend on the characteristics of the selected variety. This also applies to landing dates. Sowing in open ground can be done in autumn or spring. Some varieties need winter sowing, because with this option, the seeds undergo natural stratification.
When planting a decorative onion with seeds, proceed according to the following algorithm:
- Artificial stratification. This stage is only necessary when planting crops in the spring. It is necessary to wrap the planting material in a damp cloth and leave it for 2-3 days. Be sure to moisten the fabric as it dries.
- Disinfection. For this, potassium permanganate is used. The solution should be slightly pink in color, keep the seeds in it for long.
- Soil preparation and seed sowing. They do not need to be deeply buried - 1-2 cm is enough. Sprinkle on top with earth and water.
Seed germination is low, so you can first grow seedlings, and then plant it in open ground. It is necessary to act as follows.
- Soak the seeds. You can start landing when they hatch.
- Prepare substrateusing turfy land, peat and humus. You can buy the finished mixture.
- Plant seeds in a suitable container.
- Dive seedlings after emergence.
- Harden seedlings. Begin should be 2 weeks before planting in open ground. First, seedlings should be taken out to fresh air for only a quarter of an hour, then this time should be increased.
- Move seedlings to a permanent place 60-70 days after sowing seeds.
- Prepare a site for landing. Loosen and level the ground. Make grooves, deepening by 10 cm. Water them and the seedlings themselves. Carefully transfer it to the prepared area.
When a plant propagates by seeds, a change in the characteristics of a particular variety may be observed. More often it affects the color of inflorescences, which becomes paler.
Bulbs
In this way, you can plant a decorative onion for the first time or transplant an old plant. The second option is recommended to be used when the plant is 5 years old, if it is also planted with a bulb.
Dig the bulbs after the seeds have fully ripened and the leaf blades have dried. It is recommended to resort to this measure not only for transplanting and propagating the plant, but also every year for winter storage. Dug onions need a temperature of up to 18-20 degrees. To prevent them from drying, peat or sawdust should be used.
When planting a decorative bow, you need to proceed according to the following algorithm:
- Select planting material. Bulbs must be strong and healthy. Loose and weak specimens should be discarded.
- Prepare planting material. At this stage, care must be taken to prevent diseases and pests. It is necessary to prepare according to the instructions a solution of a suitable fungicide and lower the bulbs into it for half an hour. After planting material, be sure to dry it. To prevent pests, the bulbs should be warmed up at a temperature of 40 degrees for 12 hours. This is done immediately before landing.
- Prepare a site for landing. It must be dug up, loosened and leveled. Fertilize if necessary.
- Prepare the holes. Be sure to make a drainage - pour sand in 2-3 cm. It will absorb excess moisture.
- Plant bulbs. Planting depth depends on the size of the planting material and should be twice as long as the bulb along with the bottom. Orient the distance between plants to their size: for small specimens 10 cm is enough, for large ones - from 20 cm and more. If you plant decorative onions in groups, then leave between them about 35 cm.
- Abundantly shed. Moisture should reach the bottom of the bulbs.
Buns
This method of propagation is not suitable for all types of decorative onions, since not all of them form bulbs. This interesting name means small bulbs that form on inflorescences. It is possible to provoke and strengthen their formation by cutting buds and treating the bush with a growth stimulator.
Buns should be planted in the fall. Do this before frost so that the plant has time to take root. It is important to properly deepen the bulbs, taking into account their size: small and medium-sized specimens should be deepened by 5-6 cm, and larger ones by 8 cm.
The attractiveness of the propagation of decorative onions with bulbs is that such planting material is clean for phytopathogens. This means that flowering will begin as early as possible, including next year.
An important advantage of the propagation of ornamental onions with bulbs is the preservation of all the signs of the mother plant. This means that it will gain the same height, and the color saturation will remain.
Care
Decorative bow requires complex care. The conditions for growing it are quite simple.
Watering
This stage of care during the growing season is especially important. In May, the earth should be watered abundantly so that it is moistened by 20-25 cm. After irrigation, loosening is necessary. Mulching is also useful - you can use any loose material, including mowed grass.
At the end of the growing season, the decorative onion practically does not need watering. It should be carried out as necessary if dry weather sets in.
Top dressing
Decorative onions are sensitive to potassium in the soil, so you should regularly feed accordingly. It is also beneficial to add wood ash and compost.
Dressing decorative onions is needed several times a season - with active growth of foliage, during the formation of buds and during the formation of bulbs. Autumn top dressing is also required, which makes it easier for the plant to tolerate winter. During this period, it is better to use granular potash-phosphorus fertilizers.
Decorative onions need fertilizer and early spring, when the snow has just melted. Such top dressing gives him strength for further growth and development. It is necessary to loosen the soil and make a complex mineral fertilizer - in dry form or solution. Top dressing should not fall on sprouts. If you use granular fertilizer, you need to carefully close it so that all the granules are hidden underground.
At the end of the growing season per square meter, you can add:
- superphosphate and potassium sulfate - 40-60 g of each species;
- bone meal (70-100 g) and 2 shovels of wood ash;
- ready-made complex fertilizer, use according to the instructions.
Pruning
Before flowering, the death of leaves begins, while the bulb begins to actively accumulate nutrients.It is impossible to pick leaves at this stage, otherwise the plant will suffer in the future.
If it is not planned to collect seeds for propagation, then wilted flowers are best trimmed. Be sure to leave 3-4 leaves - they are necessary for the bulb to carry out photosynthesis.
Leaves and stems should be pruned when they turn completely yellow after flowering. This symptom indicates that the bulb has finished accumulating nutrients.
Diseases and Pests
Decorative onion is subject to standard diseases and pests for its type:
- Peronosporosis. This disease is also called downy mildew. It manifests itself in blurry pale green spots on leaves and flower arrows, as well as the development of mycelium with gray-violet spores. It is necessary to remove the affected parts of the plant. As a prophylaxis, spring treatment with fungicides is needed.
- Cercosporosis, also called leaf spotting. Not only they are affected, but also peduncles, on which gray spots appear. It is necessary to remove the affected parts of the plant and spray it with a copper-containing agent.
- Rust. This disease can come along with heat. First, orange balls appear on the leaves, then spores form. The methods of struggle are similar to the previous paragraph.
- Black mold. The disease can affect the ornamental bow in mid-summer. It is manifested by yellowing of the leaves and the appearance of plaque on them. Treatment involves removing diseased leaves and using copper-based products. Prevention is compliance with the rules of planting and caring for the plant.
- Onion fly and root tick. The defeat of both pests leads to the death of plants. As a treatment, tobacco dust and ash are used for dusting or an infusion of them for spraying. It is useful to add black pepper to this composition. You can use dichlorvos, not forgetting personal protective measures. Prevention is the proper preparation of planting material.
Regular inspection of plants allows timely detection of signs of the disease and the appearance of pests. If you immediately take the necessary measures, you can avoid many problems.
Decorative onions are quite unpretentious and do not require much effort when growing. Using different types of this plant in combination with other flowers allows you to create an original landscape design on your site.