Discover the names of 18 Best Allium Varieties in this article. These stunning ornamental onion types can be grown in containers as well!
Allium genus has many species to choose from. To make it easy for you, we have selected the Most Popular Allium Varieties with the best blend of colors and charm that will surely add a lot of appeal to your garden!
Check out the best flowers that attract butterflies to the garden here
Best Allium Varieties
1. Moly
Botanical Name: Allium ‘Moly’
Zones: 3-9
Size: 12-18 inches tall
Also known as lily leek, this beautiful Allium is loved for yellow flowers that bloom from late spring to mid-summer. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
2. Blue Allium
Botanical Name: Allium caeruleum
Zones: 4-8
Size: 18-24 inches tall
This showy small onion features sky blue flowers in a 1-2 inch ball-like cluster. It looks wonderful in beds, borders, meadows, and rock gardens. The plant favors full sun and well-draining soil.
3. Pink Lily Leek
Botanical Name: Allium oreophilum
Zones: 4-11
Size: 14-20 inches tall
This short Allium type produces charming magenta florets that create loose flower heads. When grown in masses, it forms beautiful scenery. Plant it in full sun and well-draining soil.
4. Globemaster
Botanical Name: Allium ‘Globemaster’
Zones: 5-8
Size: 24-48 inches tall
This tall Allium variety is planted for its light purple showy 6-8 inches wide flower heads. Grow the plant in the full sun using well-draining soil.
5. Purple Sensation
Botanical Name: Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’
Zones: 4-9
Size: 18-36 inches tall
‘Purple Sensation’ produces 4-5 inches wide globes of striking purple-violet blooms that grow on 24-30 inch stalks. Plant the bulbs in full sun to part shade in well-draining soil.
6. Star of Persia
Botanical Name: Allium cristophii
Zones: 4-8
Size: 16-28 inches tall
Star of Persia produces 90-100 individual small blooms in one flower head. The light purple blossoms can reach up to 10-12 inches in diameter.
7. Millenium
Botanical Name: Allium ‘Millenium’
Zones: 5-8
Size: 10-14 inches tall
This long flowering variety blooms in late summer with light purple blossoms of 2-3 inches wide heads that drift above the mound of shiny green leaves. You can grow it in cottage gardens and mixed borders.
8. Turkistan Onion
Botanical Name: Allium karataviense
Zones: 4-8
Size: 10-14 inches tall
The foliage of this species is as pretty as its flowers! It looks great when grown in groups in window boxes, containers, rock gardens, and border fronts.
9. Drumstick
Botanical Name: Allium sphaerocephalon
Zones: 3-10
Size: 3 feet tall
This Allium is also known as round-headed garlic and offers red-purple, egg-shaped flower heads that contain a tight cluster of little rose-purple florets. Grow it in large groups in open woodland areas, rock gardens, containers, beds, and borders.
10. Three-Cornered Leek
Botanical Name: Allium triquetrum
Zones: 3-8
Size: 14-20 inches tall
It blooms in spring with delicate, pendulous white flowers on triangular stems, hence the name. You can also plant it in your vegetable garden along with carrots, roses, chamomile, and beets.
11. Mount Everest
Botanical Name: Allium ‘Mount Everest’
Zones: 4-8
Size: 24-36 inches tall
As the name sounds, ‘Mount Everest’ features 5-6 inches wide heads of bright white blooms on tall stalks. For best visual effect, plant at least 10-15 bulbs together in a group. It looks great with peonies, delphiniums, or irises.
12. Crow Garlic Hair
Botanical Name: Allium vineale ‘Hair’
Zones: 3-8
Size: 18-28 inches tall
This Allium variety produces flowers with a purple center and green, hair-like elongations. Its extraordinary appearance brings texture to beds and borders.
13. Gladiator
Botanical Name: Allium ‘Gladiator’
Zones: 4-10
Size: 36-48 inches tall
It is one of the tallest allium varieties you can grow that looks spectacular with its pom-pom flowers. The flowers are also quite potent in attracting butterflies!
14. Giant Onion
Botanical Name: Allium giganteum
Zones: 4-8
Size: 36-54 inches tall
This allium got its name due to the large globe of tiny florets that look smashing in a purple-blue hue. It is one of the best backdrop plants you can grow in the garden for long-lasting blooms!
15. Allium Red Mohican
Botanical Name: Allium ‘Red Mohican’
Zones: 4-9
Size: 24-36 inches tall
This allium type has beautiful maroon-red flowers with very tiny white petals on the top, which looks like a Mohican, hence the name.
16. German Garlic
Botanical Name: Allium Senescens
Zones: 3-7
Size: 10-18 inches tall
This ornamental onion has grassy leaves with lilac-purple flowers. The plant is one of the best contenders for a rock garden. It also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds!
17. Ornamental Onion
Botanical Name: Allium atropurpureum
Zones: 4-10
Size: 24-36 inches tall
One of the prettiest on this list, it has deep purple flowers with blueberry ‘eyes.’ It looks stunning in flower beds and borders. For the best display, grow it with ‘Gladiator.’
Honorable Mention
18. Sicilian Honey Garlic
Botanical Name: Nectaroscordum siculum
Zones: 5-10
Size: 36-48 inches tall
This variety is not Allium but a close relative that is sold as one. It offers bell-shaped flowers with red-purple markings. Grow it in full sun and well-draining soil.
