Ornamental onion ‘Millenium’

* Common name: Ornamental onion ‘Millenium’

* Botanical name: Allium ‘Millenium’

* What it is: This winter-hardy onion plant is grown for its gorgeous and long-lasting walnut-sized round flowers of pinkish-purple that bloom in July and August – and sometimes beyond. Leaves are bladed and upright.

Deer, rodents and animal pests don’t like the onion taste at all. Plants have mild onion scent when leaves are crushed, but you can’t smell it in the garden. Bees and butterflies are attracted by the flowers.

‘Millenium’ is an impressive enough performer that it won the Perennial Plant Association’s 2018 Perennial Plant of the Year.

* Size: 18 inches tall. Plant 18 inches apart.

* Where to use: Plant in clusters of at least three to five in border beds, perennial gardens or along walks, patios or driveways. Prefers raised beds and well drained soil; no soggy clay. Flowers best in full sun but also does well in part shade.

* Care: Scatter a balanced, organic, granular fertilizer over the bed each early spring. Snip off flower stalks when blooms fade but wait until foliage browns or at least yellows before cutting in fall or end of winter. Dried flower heads can be left standing all winter, if you like the look. Water usually not needed; these are drought-tough.

* Great partners: Dwarf panicle hydrangeas and abelia Pinky Bells are good shrub partners. Interplant between boxwoods to give spiky contrast. Or mix into a perennial garden with any purple, pink, or white bloomer.