Allium karataviense - typically, only a
single form of this splendid Allium has been
mass cultivated over the years, represented by a pale, off-pink color form,
shown on the
right. Recently, some named cultivars have appeared. On
the right, is
'Ivory Queen',
a stunning variety with clean white flowers in
baseball-sized
heads, or larger.
The foliage is also more green, in contrast to the
dark purplish
foliage seen in
the commonly cultivated variety.
In the photo below, we see some of the same plants, with an additional
row on
the left of a giant red-flowered cultivar named 'Red Globe'. This
one is has only
recently been named, and is hard to come by and very expensive. It flowers
much
earlier than typical karataviense forms, and has enormous 8" spheres of
crimson
flowers. The foliage is also much longer and pointed. All forms of A.
karataviense
have splendid succulent foliage reminiscent of a Tulip species, and
unquestionably
ornamental in their own right.
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The
two photos below depict three collected forms of Allium karataviense.
It's startling to see the range of variable plant characteristics
exhibited in just
these three collections.
In the view above, we see two different
collected forms of Allium karataviense,
both from Uzbekistan. It's interesting to compare the
differences. The plant on
the right is similar to the 'Red Globe' selection (hailing from the same
area where
that cultivar was selected), yet lower growing, with a smaller, more
compact
head of deep rosy-red flower. Next to it is a pallid, small-headed
form, with
longer narrow foliage. It demonstrates the importance of selecting
only the
best forms when collecting plants for introduction into the plant
trade.
Below is another view, showing a third form on the right, being much larger
and
with more open heads of bloom, indeed similar to the 'Red Globe'
selection.
I like the middle one the best, for the compact habit and bright rosy red
flowers.
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