allium guttatum ssp. sardoum
Antennaria@aol.com (Tue, 06 Jul 2004 18:58:17 PDT)

Arnold Trachtenberg <arnold@nj.rr.com> writes:

Hmm, you didn't say what the height is, just a relative difference.

A couple things to consider. A. sphaerocephalon can vary from relative
giants (nearly 5'), on average growing about 3-1/2', to much shorter forms, even
dwarf ones, and at least one prostrate form that Brian Mathew has identified.
Most times when I've grown sphaerocephalon, it's been about 3' - 3.5 feet (90 -
105 cm). Also, this species, like many alliums, responds to soil and
moisture conditions to an alarming extent. So, dry, poor or sandy soils might yeild
plants only 2' tall, the same bulbs grown in rich, moist yet well drained soil
might be double that size.

Regarding Allium guttatum ssp. sardoum and ssp. dalmaticum (white and purple
color variants respectively), both reach the same height for me, about 18" -
24" (45 - 60 cm), and is a rather smaller plant than sphaerocephalon, unless of
course, one of the other growth and genetic factors is present. Of course I
grow them in very sandy, dryish soil. This year, only one bulb of each
subspecies has returned to flower, and I might need to replenish the stock soon.
It's available from Pacific Rim Nursery.

Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States
antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5
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