Why do the leaves of ornamental onions look bad?

Ornamental onions (Allium) are beautiful and eye-catching plants.

Its unique shape and beautiful blooms will be a real asset to your flower bed! They make a particularly striking impression when planted in large groups. Even after they’ve finished blooming, their stunning silhouette will remain visible in the garden for a very long time.

Ornamental onions do have one drawback:

The leaves of the Allium are getting ugly!

Before ornamental onions begin to bloom, the leaves of many varieties turn yellow, white, or brown. All of the plant’s energy is then directed toward flowering and the flower bulb. The leaves die off (partially).

What can you do about unsightly leaves on ornamental onions?

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to prevent brown or yellow leaves on ornamental onions. It's just a natural characteristic of the Allium genus, and most varieties are prone to this.

You could prune off the unsightly leaves. But this can hinder the bulb’s development. This increases the likelihood that your ornamental onion won’t come back next year, or won’t bloom as well. That’s because not enough nutrients will be returned to the bulb (just as when you prune the leaves of tulips and daffodils too early).

A better solution for the unsightly foliage of Allium is to plant other perennials or ornamental grasses in front of it. That way, the brown, white, or yellow foliage won’t stand out anymore and will blend into your border. Ornamental grasses like Pennisetum or Stipa make a beautiful combination with ornamental onions, by the way!