Allium moly

Lily leek

Who knew that you could fit sunshine in a quart-sized container? That's surely what this ornamental onion is -- sunshine for your garden.

Held above the foliage in May through June, the penny-sized bright yellow blooms are star-shaped and light up any part of the garden. They contrast nicely with the long, strap-like blue-green leaves which last all summer.

It prefers well-drained, moist soil in part shade to full sun, but in hot climates it will need shade. The lily leek spreads slowly by offsets and seeding, but the process can be hastened by providing rich, sandy loam.

I've always liked this plant near purple-foliaged coral bells like Heuchera 'Can Can'.

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(c) 2007 Christopher P. Lindsey