Summer Beauty allium plants can spread, but they do so quite slowly. It may take up to three years for an individual plant to establish and begin spreading. This means that if you are looking for a quick and expansive ground cover, Summer Beauty allium may not be the best choice. However, if you are patient and willing to wait, they can eventually form a beautiful mass planting.
One of the advantages of Summer Beauty allium is that it is a sterile cultivar. This means that it does not produce seeds that can spread and become invasive. Unwanted spread by seed-in is not a concern with this particular variety. This is a great advantage for those who want to enjoy the beauty of allium without worrying about it taking over their garden or landscape.
When planting Summer Beauty allium, it is important to give each plant enough space to spread. They need room to grow and establish their root systems. Planting them too close together can hinder their growth and spread. It is recommended to space them about 12-18 inches apart to allow for proper development.
It is worth noting that allium plants, including Summer Beauty, spread primarily through bulbs. As the plant matures, it produces offsets or bulbils that can be divided and replanted to create more plants. However, the spreading process can be quite slow and may not be as rapid as other plants that spread through rhizomes or runners.
In my personal experience, I have found that Summer Beauty allium gradually forms clumps over time. The clumps can expand and fill in gaps in the garden bed, creating a lovely mass planting effect. It is important to be patient and give the plants time to establish themselves before expecting significant spreading.
Summer Beauty allium can spread, but it does so slowly through bulb offsets rather than seed dispersal. This variety is a sterile cultivar, so there is no need to worry about it becoming invasive. While individual plants may take a few years to establish and begin spreading, they can eventually form a beautiful mass planting if given enough space and time.
