Many years ago I read a rather prejudicial statement by a gardening non-american who said that American Gardeners were like babies. If it wasn't big bright and shiny we couldn't appreciate it. Well, I disagree-WAH! The point is that some of the seed heads of Alliums are also attractive in their own right (as Cameron mentioned about Purple Sensation) if you have an eye for such things. For instance I've used the Drumstick Allium heads in dried arrangements with success. Also at a teaching garden I was attracted to a group of medium growing large flower heads that looked like an explosion of fireworks had just gone off. It turned out they were the seed heads of Allium Schubertii. They were planted in front of an evergreen shrub border with competition from nothing else "bright and shiny" to distract, and their unusual form took center stage. The guide said that they stayed like that for at least a month or so. I've never seen them in bloom, but had I a similar set up, I'd certainly try the same combination. Here is a link that might be useful: Allium Schubertii

I have a few of the twister types that are very well behaved. Bought them several years ago from High Country Gardens. I just looked but they don't have them anymore. I also have 'Summer Beauty' which has clean foliage all season long. Highly recommend! I had some unknown volunteer for several years at my previous home and liked it so well I brought it with when we moved. It's blooming now. Green go, love your use of the spent flower heads. I always keep mine up even after they're brown and toasty because they're just so neat looking.

Hi, I would be interested in some otf the seeds you have to t trade maryann

Marcia, I haven't tried 'Ivory Queen', but my 'Purple Sensation' self-seeds prolifically. For the past couple of years, I didn't weed out the seedlings and this year I had a great show of blooms. I find, however, that some (not all) of the seedlings have paler purple flowers than the parent plant. Did you start 'Ivory Queen' inside, or did you winter sow? With 'Purple Sensation', I just let the seeds fall to the ground, and they took care of themselves. (I didn't intend to propagate them...I merely left the seed heads in the garden for their decorative effect.) My chives and small Allium flava also reseed without any work from me. Doris