I’m Convinced This Quirky “Dr. Seuss” Allium Flower Will Be On Every Trendy Tablescape This Year

I’m no master gardener or pro florist, but I pay attention to flowers — arrangements in restaurants and store window displays, centerpieces at events, bouquets at farmers markets. What can I say? I’m a sucker for beauty. 

I remember the pre-pandemic clamor for pampas grass and dried bunny tails like it was yesterday. And who could forget the dramatic droopery amaranth flowers brought to hanging “chandeliers” and vases shortly thereafter. But another bloom hadn’t really captivated the world since, well, now. All of a sudden, earlier this year, I started noticing other-worldly-looking flowers popping up everywhere — with long stems that almost seem unsure of the beauty of their globe-like blooms. Turns out, it’s the allium flower, and I’m not saying it’s new, but it’s definitely having a major moment right now. 

So if you’re planning anything from a casual dinner party to a grand wedding — or just want a bouquet for your desk with an extra touch of personality — I’m breaking down everything you need to know about alliums. They’re what I’m calling the “it” flower of every trendy tablescape and will even play well with all those pumpkins you’re about to buy, too. 

“Alliums are plants that belong to the garlic and onion family,” says Leatal Cohen, floral designer, photographer, and owner of Pic and Petal. “They stand out because of their distinct long stems that easily give shape to an arrangement.” 

The exaggerated proportions of this flower family — very slender stems with small blooms that read as large globes — is underscored by the fact that they can come in multiple shades and can grow to be giant. “They look almost like something out of a Dr. Seuss book,” says Justin Lievano, floral design manager at UrbanStems. “Some of the blooms are huge, too, up to three feet tall with bloom heads the size of grapefruits. You’ll see them most often in shades of purple, although whites or green tones pop up on occasion.”

Although alliums aren’t the showiest stems, they’re striking in their quirkiness, which absolutely plays into prevailing trends elsewhere in design right now. Both fashion and interiors are experiencing a foodificaction of everything from color — butter yellow, “tomato girl” red — to decorative patterns, like martini olives and donuts. So it makes sense florals aren’t far behind this curve. “There is a current floral trend that involves integrating florals and food, especially fruits, vegetables, and herbs,” says Cohen. 

Tight globular and perfectly symmetrical florals are also somewhat on the decline, as arrangements loosen up and have become more about texture, dimension, and wild, organic shapes. “There is a lot of sculptural floristry out there right now, and alliums help invoke that artful and playful feeling that fits the edible arrangement trend really well,” says Cohen. Lievano agrees, likening them to craspedia (little yellow orbs). “They introduce excitement and whimsy with their unexpected shape,” says Lievano.

“You can have a ‘gladiator’ allium, which has a strong linear stem almost 3 feet tall with a large purple globular head, or you can have a ‘snake-ball’ allium, which has a curly body with a tiny green bud at the top reminiscent of a snake,” says Cohen. “There are also super-dainty spray alliums, which are short and have a clustering of delicate white flowers that add a feminine texture to an arrangement. Either way, with an allium, you always get a sensory experience, and florists ultimately love the texture they bring to an arrangement.”

According to Cohen, this family of flowers is typically readily available from early spring to late summer or early fall, depending on where they’re sourced. They’re bulb flowers, says Lievano, and as such, once they’re gone, they won’t return until spring. You can grow them in your own backyard, too; typically, they bloom in the summer, but they’re something to think about planting in September or October for best results. 

Certain varieties can last upwards of three weeks if properly cared for. “Florists love them because of their hardiness as well; they have strong stems and last a long time,” says Cohen.

You don’t need a ton of alliums to create a striking visual, and that’s true for both arranging them in a vase or planting them in a yard. “While many traditional florists opt for larger flowers like peonies to make a statement in their arrangements, a lot of florists today are using more unique flowers like alliums for impact,” says Cohen. “I think it is because of their whimsical nature and their ability to create an organic and fun edible moment within a tablescape.” 

Moreover, as Lievano notes, alliums are something that most customers haven’t seen before, at least for the moment. “We love Venus Protea for the same reason,” says Lievano. “You’d be amazed at the kind of impression you can make with an unexpected stem or two.”

Although an allium would look striking solo in a bud vase — or as a grouping of single stems in a larger vessel — this flower also plays well with others. “We recently used them next to peonies and smokebush, and it was one of my favorite tablescapes because there was so much shape and texture there and because those specific floral pairings are more unexpected,” says Cohen. 

Lievano likes pairing them with hybrid delphinium. “For accent, I like to keep it sleek and green — lily grasses and bird nest fern foliage,” Lievano adds. 

Because alliums belong to the onion and garlic family, Cohen says you may notice a potentially unpleasant smell when they’re sitting in water too long. She suggests changing your vase’s water daily.

To get as much mileage out of an arrangement with alliums, Lievano also recommends trimming your stems when you change the water. “Keep your bouquet away from direct sunlight and heat (this causes bacterial growth in the vase water, which will ultimately kill your flowers),” says Lievano. And “keep your bouquet away from any produce or other flowers in the house — both release ethylene gas, which ages flowers.” Lastly, Lievano suggests removing any surrounding flowers as they begin to fade. 

Finally, you can try to preserve your alliums as well. “Once the arrangement’s life has ended, I would pull the allium [flowers] out,” says Cohen. “And depending on the variety, preserve it by putting it in a separate vase without water; this way it can stand out on its own!”

And just as a note: Keep alliums away from dogs and cats, as they can be toxic to animals.