Allium unifolium

Allium unifolium is a sun-loving wildflower native to California and Oregon that is equally at home in the garden. Its 2" flower heads of starry, lavender-pink blossoms are a welcome sight in late spring. Rich in nectar and pollen, the flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. Plant in a site with ample moisture in spring; this species also tolerates moist soil in summer. For the best display, group a dozen or more bulbs together. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

The genus Allium (the Latin means "garlic") offers colorful, distinctive, and long-lasting forms that are standouts in the early summer garden. Alliums are sun-lovers and prefer well-drained, even sandy, soil. Deer, mice, chipmunks, and related predators generally avoid this group, so you can plant with impunity. Tuck them among clumps of later summer-flowering perennials where the Alliums' withering foliage will be hidden by the expanding perennials.

For more information on the growing and care of Allium, click Growing Guide.