ALLIUM. Widespread, Northern Hemisphere. In addition to such food plants as the onion, garlic and chives, the alliums include many fine ornamental bulbs for border, rock garden and container culture. A few are evergreen; most are deciduous at some time of the year. Most have narrowly strap shaped to cylindrical basal leaves during the growing season, and all display small 6-parted blossoms in umbrella-like clusters (sometimes contracted into spherical heads atop naked flowering stalks). Sun, reasonably well drained soil, moderate watering. The following should be hardy to 10^oF. or less.

splendens. The species is well-named, for it is certainly one of the prettiest of the group. The small bulbs multiply quickly but maintain tight clumps, from which very narrow, dark green 6-8" leaves arise in early spring. By midsummer, loose clusters of nodding, bell shaped, purplish red blossoms appear just above the foliage, the show lasting for several weeks. An excellent pot plant. Winter dormant (and needs moderate summer watering).