Allium – Late Bloomers?

(Question)

I purchased this last year and it was beautiful with 3″ blooms. It came back and has produced many buds. I was expecting it to be in bloom already. Are these buds normal? They seem small to me given it is late July.

(Answer)

Thanks for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners.  Often when you buy plants they are blooming earlier than the regular blooming time.  Allium ‘Milleniums’ normally bloom from mid to late summer so they seem to be on schedule.  From your picture these plants look quite healthy with normal buds.  Perhaps the cold spring has delayed them a little bit.  If the buds fail to develop in August, send another picture with a description of the alliums’ growing conditions in terms of light and type of soil. For more information on Allium ‘Milleniums’ please see the following websites:

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=263431

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/315303/Allium-Millennium/Details