All About Allium

Beloved for their distinct, architectural shapes, Alliums add a nearly otherworldly dimension to any design.

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What are the varieties of alliums sold at the Collective?

Alliums encompass hundreds of species, including chives and onions. They're edible, flavorful, and make great pollinators, too!

The ornamental varieties grow in a smattering of colors and sizes and have a reliable vase life, too. Many of our Collective farms offer spring-blooming alliums as well as allium millennium, which in harvested in July and August. See below for more info on specific varieties.

Opening Time for Alliums

Alliums, like other cut flowers, need time to fully open. On the left is an image of two Allium Purple Sensation stems. The stem on the right is freshly harvested, while the stem on the left has been left out to open for a few days.

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Allium Purple Sensation

Purple Sensation is the first blooming allium we see during the year at CFC. This is the most plentiful variety for us, with several growers bringing this variety in May. The decorative globes range in size but can grow in diameter up to 4 inches. Alliums have an exceptionally long vase life and hold well in a cooler, which make them great for both shop and event florists.

Allium Globe

Globe alliums are having a moment and have been our most requested in 2025. These make the perfect focal and structural element for installations, aisle arrangements, or large-scale vase arrangements. Stem lengths can be extra long, up to 24 inches, while their decorative head diameter can be 5 or more inches. We won't see these in large quantities, but we can expect some late May into early June.

Allium Millenium (Flowering Chives)

Millennium allium arrives in July, just when the flush of summer crops begins booming. These are a smaller variety with stems lengths up to about 14inches. Their globes are much smaller than their spring counterparts, measuring between 1 and 2 inches. We love millennium alliums because they can easily be used in arrangements or bouquets for extra shape and texture. You'll also see them in our dried section as they dry well in the field or when hung fresh to dry.

Allium Giant White

When you're not interested in purple, but you still want that globe shape, the white allium is perfect. We don't see white allium in large quantities, but some of our growers bring white allium in late May and June. White Allium is sold in 5-stem bunches and ranges from 14-18in. We have also seen XL white allium with longer stems, too!

Allium Bulgaricum

New to the shop this year and highly anticipated is Allium bulgaricum, also known as Allium Summer Bells or Sicilian Honey Garlic. It reminds us of fritillaria varieties already done by late May, when allium season begins. The adorable bell shapes make this tiny delight irresistible for all arrangements. Sold in 5-stem bunches with stem lengths between 12 and 18 inches.

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Other Allium Varieties

Sometimes other specialty alliums show up as surprise market bunches!

Allium Hairy

Allium Light Blue

Allium Atropurpureum

Allium Schubertii