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There
are two types of Allium: The giant Allium and
the miniature Allium. The giant variety is a fluffy
looking, bubble-shaped purple flower, which is 4-10 inches in
diameter and sits on a stem that is at least
2 feet long. The smaller Allium is egg-shaped with
flowers that are only 1-2 inches across and sit
atop a stem that is half the size of its giant brother.
These
flowers, which come from the mountains in
ancient China, are excellent for banquet table arrangements,
because of their striking appearance. Warning: it is
best to use these flowers on a table
from which you are offering food such as hors
d'oeuvres, because they do have an odor of onions.
If you place these flowers in water 24 hours before
the wedding, much of the odor will be eliminated.
Historically,
these flowers are used at weddings
because onions were a sign of good luck and
health. The smaller varieties are available
throughout most of the year, but the giant Allium
are only available in the late spring and early
summer. They will keep for about 10 days. |
