Alliums

UsFour

Anyone grown the following Alliums please?

Nigrum
Neopolitanum
autropurpureum

Are they good "doers" and come back well every year?

Thinking of buying from J Parkers online as seem to be good prices and good selection .. anyone have experience of the firm?

Thanks in advance.

Victoria Sponge

I use J Parkers for bulbs pretty much every year.  When I've ordered end of season sale bulbs I've occasionally had a soft bulb but they have always replaced if I requested it.

I have 1 atropurpureum left after 5 years but most of them thinned out well before then.  I suppose much depends on your soil, mine is clay based but I planted these alliums in a high dry spot, not sure why that 1 bulb still remains.

I think I had neopolitanum too, or one of the small white types back in the day but cannot find a record of an order. They are no more, anyway. 

Loxley

I planted A. atropurpureum last year, they all came up but I can't speak to long-term persistence. Quite nice but very very dark, you probably need to think where you're planting them or they won't have much impact. The foliage is very neat, the flowers last ages, and they have held up to the wind extremely well. I think most of my allium losses over the years has been due to me accidentally digging them up. I get new ones each year wherever I find them on sale for cheap; The Range, B&M etc

fidgetbones

They have  purple rain and purple sensation on offer at Parkers. Good prices. If you plant them 6 inch deep, they come back year after year and muliply up well. Mine get dug up most years. Starting with a coupleof dozen of each, I seem to have hundreds now.  Big bulbs go back in the flower beds in September. Little ones go in a line in the veg patch and I use them for cutting for the house.   Allium christophii bulks up well too, and flowers a little later if you want to extend the flowering display.

Wilderbeast

@UsFour we use Jparker for bulk purchases every year (Mrs Wilderbeast is currently doing her bulb list) we've found they very good to deal with and they've always replaced and bulbs or plants we've had a problem with. We planted lots autropurpureum 3 autumn's ago and they continue to come back with real vigour. The only exception is in 1 bed which floods every winter, we have well drained soil and think that helps 

UsFour

Thanks everyone ...