Allium ‘Millenium’ has been selected by the Perennial Plant Association membership as the organization’s 2018 Perennial Plant of the Year. And yes, the spelling is correct: There is only one “n” in the cultivar name.
The PPA’s Perennial Plant of the Year program began in 1990 to showcase a perennial that is a standout among its competitors. In order to qualify for nomination, a plant must exhibit the following characteristics:
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suitability for a wide range of climatic conditions
- low maintenance requirements
- relative pest and disease resistance
- ready availability in the year of promotion
- multiple seasons of ornamental interest
This Allium is amazing! From the Onion Man, Mark McDonough, `Millennium’ is the result of several generations of deliberate hybridizing. A compact grower, it is clothed in glossy green, narrow, upright strap like leaves which, during late summer, are topped with loads of shimmering iridescent pink-purple, 2-inch-wide, balloon like flower heads. Fantastic on a small or large scale, `Millennium’ looks great spread throughout a planting of sedums, or planted in groups as a terrific edger, ground cover, or accent plant. Great companions include Calamintha, Caryopteris, Echinacea, Heuchera, Perovskia, Sedums, Solidago, and ornamental grasses such as Pennisetums, Panicums, dwarf Miscanthus, and Sporobolus.
