September 23 | Plant of the week Part XV

A botanical challenge

There are around 700 different Allium species known, many of them are a botanical challenge in cultivation. Allium? Never heard? The common name is leek. Most of us will immediately think of garlic, wild garlic or chives. Almost all alliums are edible, at least none are poisonous. The alpine gardener can immediately think of tons of dwarf species for the rock garden or the Alpinum. Alliums belong to the family Amaryllidaceae. The genus is found throughout the northern hemisphere. There are only 5 to 7 truly blue flowering species. In the Guggerbachtal Alpinum on the Schatzalp, one of the most beautiful and rarest Allium species is still blooming. It comes from the Himalayas, more precisely from Nepal and Sikkim as well as the neighboring countries facing northeast. It is up to 4800 m above sea level. M. still to be found. As can be seen in the picture, Allium sikkimense is also interesting for butterflies; they like to snack and spend the night on the plant.