Sometimes inspiration for the garden comes from books. I have written several times about how inspiration from the Piet Oudolf books changed the plantings and their arrangement here. Last fall, it was another tome, this time Bulb by Anna Pavord, that inspired some branching out in the bulb order selections to the small Alliums ssp.. Of the four types ordered, Allium moly ‘Jeannine’ is now blooming and is performing perfectly.
Factors that are beyond my control affect the bulb display here; the weather, the soil and critters, among other things. One plant that never ever fails to bring us great joy and is beloved by the pollinators is garlic chives, Allium tuberosum. The thinking was that other, similar little onions might also do as well.
Several Alliums with larger bloom heads have been planted with varying success. Some are wonderful the first year, never to be seen again. Some will return sparingly but need to be treated as annuals with new plantings each fall for a guaranteed show. Some years, there is disappointment, like the 2012 edition of Allium ‘Mt. Everest’ which is supposed to be tall and stately and this year is short and sort of sad. But Allium moly ‘Jeannine’, now there is a patch that brings a smile. The Rhododendron ‘Klondyke’ and blue bearded Iris add to the grin.
Ms. Pavord recommended planting in the shade, on the north side of a rock or under a shrub. I chose the area under the native nine bark cultivar, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summer Wine’, not knowing last fall that the shrub would be blooming at the same time as Jeannine. What a lucky site selection it turned out to be. The book said it would bloom in summer, but this is not England, so who knows? Also, this year the bloom times are out of sync with normal anyway.
Fifty bulbs were planted in two holes, pointy side up. The results have exceeded expectations. It still remains to be seen what the return rate will be, but there are high hopes.
Some plant facts about Allium moly ‘Jeannine’:
Bloom time: In Southeast Tennessee, April, in 2012 anyway. Bulb says summer.
Zone: 3-9
Height: About a foot to 18 inches tall, Bulb says 8 inches.
Flower size: Many smaller florets on a flat head about one to two inches wide.
Color: Yellow
Habitat: Species found in Europe on mountain scree on the north side of a rock, prefers shade.
Will naturalize under shrubs and trees, I hope that happens here.
Named for the wife of Dutch nurseryman Michael Hoog in 1978. Jeannine is a selected form, flowering earlier and more reliably than the species.
Gardening, and life, is about trying new things. One never knows when luck will strike and that new thing will turn out to be a new favorite. I hope this is one to last a lifetime.
Frances
Fairegarden 
Jeannine is the prettiest allium that I have ever seen. It is spectacular with your Ninebark. I have a similar situation. Hmmmm. Worth looking for this allium.
It is a surprising color for an allium. I had a patch a while back but I must have disturbed it and discouraged it. I will have to replant some. It bloomed here in mid-spring as I remember. Summer? Pfffft…England only. Even my big alliums are heading up two weeks early this year. What will be left for June?
Jeannine is very colorful and flirtatious and would be quite welcome in anyone’s garden. Hope she decides yours is the perfect place to take up permanent residence and makes many return visits in the years to come. I love the composition of the flower head with all the dainty florets working together to give a big bang of color.
I too fell in love with allium moly, and the first year they were cheerful, bright accents at the low level of the garden, so yellow and cute. I knew they would wander, but instead of spreading, mine wandered away. Each year I have fewer, and almost none in the one garden where I planted tons of them. I do still see some in my front garden, but mostly allium moly is no more for me.
(I don’t think mine were ‘Jeannine’)
I will have to think of them as annuals. My Purple Sensation is smaller and a little sparse this year and Schurberti did not come back. I did plant some extras of this one last fall.
Eileen
I’ve had the exact same experience…big headed alliums like purple sensation fizzle out,especially this year, but my allium moly patch is thriving and growing larger every year (its been 3 years since they were installed). Mine are very early (of course) this year as well, but I think you will be really happy with yours next year in terms of survival and spreading. Not invasive, just gently colonizing. Thanks for the post…so I know I’m not alone on my Purple Sensation disappointment!
Jeanine, thanks so much for sharing info about this allium. I’m not a fan of yellow blossoms but Steve adores them and we have an area in our woodland garden where this would make a lovely contrast. Such a pretty, pretty blossom head! Does it smell like a typical allium (oniony)?
I like this allium and the color is delightful…It looks happy in your garden and I like the planned and serendipitous pairings. I tried this early on in my gardening career~Before I truly understood my garden conditions; of course, it was a one season wonder. It might be time to give it another try. xoxogail
I was unaware of this bulb, Jeannine, but now I will have to get in for mt yard! Thanks for posting it. Jeannine
This yellow allium is so unusual and so bright. I had my first alliums blooming last spring – the Brent and Becky catalog proved irresistible. I was so surprised about the many flower forms. I think most of mine survived the winter and are budding up nicely. No blooms yet.
I am putting this on my list of plants that Frances grows that I want to try. I agree with Layanee, how it performs in England is no indication of how it will perform in Tennessee. But it might be closer to how it performs in upstate NY, where I live. I will have to grow some to see. I think for a lot of the alliums, they need what is known as perfect drainage, and if they don’t get it, they go bye-bye.
I have just added my first ninebark here. I love the way the little flower clusters contrast with the burgundy foliage. Lovely siting in your garden.
I have just made a beautiful bouquet from my standard chives. The oddest thing has happend this year…..my typically blue blooms are pink in the center and lavender on the outside, kinda like when they are spent, only the fresh bloom is this color with very healthy petals and brilliat color. I’m not complaining, just wanted to share this morfing of my chives. What would cause this? Weather, alkalinity changes? I know a rusty nail at the roots of a pink hydrangea, will turn it blue. BTW I have allium envy………Jeannine is beautiful!!! Thanks Frances!
My sandy garden is a veritable allium factory when it comes to A. cristophii and tuberosum. Haven’t tried any others, but you’ve tempted me with ‘Jeannine.’ The yellow is warmer than the species, it seems.
That Jeannine sure is a looker. I would like it in my garden. I like the yellow as a popper.
I like the look of Jeannine! It would fit perfectly underneath my magnolia. I must see if I can find it.
Good Morning Frances,
Greetings again from Vancouver, Canada. Just wanted to comment on being influenced by books. There is a lovely writer, (English,male) who wrote in the 1930’s, He bought houses and fixed them up all because of the gardens. His name is Beverley Nichols and some of his delightful titles are, Down the Garden Path,and Laughter on the Stairs. Being an urban gardener,I can’t grow too much but because of him I have tried a few things and they were all that he said they would be. I hope that he is smiling somewhere in garden heaven.
Diane.
Hi, Diane again. Frances we must be garden sisters. Those are the flowers I planted last fall and they are all up about now about 14″ I love lilies and the Regale sounded so beautiful. I will look for your post on them. I agree that Merry Hall was a marvellous read. I promise to send you a photo when they flower. Blessings.