Add easy-care ‘Millenium’ allium to your garden
It’s not often that a perennial comes along that can be described (just like Mary Poppins) as practically perfect in every way. But that is a practically perfect description for ‘Millenium’ allium. Close to foolproof, ‘Millenium’ is super drought tolerant and grows from a group of small bulbs packed together in a large clump. Plants have a compact, upright habit with grassy leaves and a profusion of large 2-inch, lavender-pink drumstick flower heads that bloom for up to a month or more in mid- to late summer.
‘Millenium’ allium (Allium hybrid)
Type Perennial
Blooms Large 2-in. bright rosy-purple rounded clusters in mid- to late summer
Light Full sun
Soil Well-drained
Pests None
Size 15 to 20 in. tall, 10 to 15 in. wide
Hardiness Cold hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Growing tips
- ‘Millenium’ allium tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils, from sandy to fertile loam. But dense clay can cause the cluster of bulbs to rot.
- Grow plants in full sun to get the most flowers. In hot summer climates, plants appreciate some light afternoon shade.
- No need to fertilize.
- Annual maintenance is simple. Just cut back the foliage of ‘Millenium’ allium every fall after the plants fade or in early spring before new growth starts.
Pests don't bother ‘Millenium’ allium
There are no serious pest or disease problems to bother ‘Millenium’, and it's quite deer-, rabbit- and squirrel-resistant. Like other members of the onion family, the leaves, when bruised, release an onion scent that helps keep these pests away. What’s more, the flowers are highly attractive to bees and butterflies, which flock to its distinctive flowers.
Enjoy multiseason interest
‘Millenium’ belongs at the front of the border where you can really enjoy the pollinating insects it attracts all season long. And while some alliums can look scraggly in the heat of the summer, ‘Millenium’ doesn’t let the heat bother it. Its late-flowering habit makes it a smart choice for breathing new life into tired beds and borders as the season winds down. The umbels, or flowerheads, are completely round and as the flowers dry, they turn light brown with a blush of their former pinky-purple tinge.
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Does ‘Millenium’ allium spread?
Unlike many ornamental alliums, self-seeding isn't a problem with ‘Millenium’ allium because the flowers aren't very fertile so spreading isn't a big concern. Division is the best way to get more of this cultivar. In either early spring or fall dig up established plants and pull the dense cluster of small bulbs apart planted 3 to 6 inches deep.
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