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blue-of-the-heavens Лук голубой 棱叶薤 leng ye xie
1847 illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Allioideae
Genus:	Allium
Subgenus:	A. subg. Allium
Species:	A. caeruleum
Binomial name
Allium caeruleum Pall.
Synonyms
Allium azureum Ledeb. Allium caerulescens G.Don Allium viviparum Kar. & Kir.

Allium caeruleum (blue globe onion, blue ornamental onion, blue-of-the-heavens, blue-flowered garlic; syn. Allium azureum Ledeb.) is an ornamental bulbous plant of the onion genus, native to Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Siberia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang). In these regions, it is found on dry slopes, plains, and steppes.

This plant is cited in the Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe puis L'illustration horticole by Charles Antoine Lemaire. It grows to 80 cm (31"), producing strap-shaped leaves and small globes (umbels) of blue flowers in early summer. The one-inch wide globular flower heads attract butterflies. The plant has been granted the British Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (1993).

A. caeruleum thrives in well-drained soil in full to partial sun. It is deer-resistant and suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4–8.

Gallery

• Allium caeruleum var. bulbilliferum Egyptian Top Onion at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
• Flower head closeup

References

1. illustration from Flore des serres et des jardins de l’Europe by Charles Lemaire and others. Gent, Louis van Houtte, 1847, volume 3 (plate 300).
2. The Plant List
3. "NC State University: Allium caeruleum". Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
4. Flora of China Allium caeruleum 棱叶薤 leng ye xie
5. Peter Simon von Pallas. 1773. Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des russischen Reichs 2: 727, pl. R.
6. ^ "Allium caeruleum - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
7. "Allium caeruleum (Ornamental Onion)". Gardenia.net. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
8. "Allium caeruleum AGM". RHS Plant Finder. Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
9. "Boston Bulbs Wholesale - Allium Azureum Bulbs - Boston Bulbs Wholesale". www.bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-05-17.

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• Allium
• Garden plants of Asia
• Flora of South European Russia
• Flora of Kazakhstan
• Flora of Kyrgyzstan
• Flora of Tajikistan
• Flora of Uzbekistan
• Flora of Altai (region)
• Flora of Xinjiang
• Plants described in 1773
• Taxa named by Peter Simon Pallas
• Allium stubs