Perennial Sparklers

Bulb planting season is an opportunity to bury treasure, humble brown bulbs and corms that guard their glory through the silent winter cold. One particularly exciting bit of treasure is this stunning onion, Allium schubertii. With blooms that can reach over a foot across, this spectacular flower looks like a show-stopping firework suspended in mid-explosion. The relatively compact plants reach 18-24″ tall and bloom best in mid to late spring in sunny locations. Unlike a lot of other bulbs, this plant’s spent flowers can be left in place and appreciated for their surprisingly kinetic architecture.