Should I cut these spent alium heads back?

ren.b

My aliums have done now - can I cut them back to the ground or is there any benefit from leaving them like that?  I'm not particularly wanting more (was wondering if the self seeded), IF i did cut them back do I just go right down to the ground?

ren.b

Have I mis-spelled alium?  Allium?

Palustris

You may well find that the flowering stems are not actually connected to the bulb underneath. Pulling them off is the way to go. They will self seed and take a few years to reach flowering size.

Plantminded

Yes, you can cut your Alliums down whenever you find them unattractive!  The leaves fade before the flowers are fully open anyway.  They can self-seed and become invasive, they also replicate by producing additional bulbs.

Crazybeelady

Yes just pull them, they'll pop out once they're ready to go. 

ren.b

Thanks guys xxxxx

GardenerSuze

@ren.b I envy you how I would love to be able to grow A shubertii. Luckily a friend gave me a seed head many years ago and it is still looking good. Great sprayed with gold paint too, at Xmas. 

fidgetbones

I like the dried seed heads, as you say, sprayed gold they make good decorations.

Palustris

The reason the heads are that shape is so that they can blow across the Steppes, easily, shedding their seeds as they freewheel in the wind.

GardenerSuze

@Palustris That is a lovely thought thank you.