Ever dream of having a garden that’s colorful spring through fall? Planting alliums is one way to realize that dream, according to bulb experts. There are dozens of varieties of alliums, pronounced “al-ee-um,” each with its own bloom time. By planting several different types, you enjoy six to eight weeks of color, bridging the season from late spring to midsummer.

Also known as ornamental onions, alliums are strong, towering plants with sturdy stems topped by balls of color in appealing shades of purple, periwinkle, lavender, lilac, maroon, white or silver.

Alliums add a spectacular architectural dimension to the garden, according to Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in southeastern Virginia. They also make wonderful cut or dried flowers.

The allium’s round flower is called an umbel, an orb of florets facing outward, according to Hans Langeveld of Longfield-Gardens. The more florets per orb, the more dense and velvety its appearance. When the florets are more loosely spaced, the effect is open and airy.

“The largest alliums have flowers that measure up to 10 inches across and stand 3 to 4 feet high,” says Langeveld of Longfield-Gardens, an online flower bulb and bare-root perennial retailer.

Large or small, it’s hard not to smile when you see a garden full of flowers that look like purple lollipops.

Allium bulbs need to be planted at the same time as daffodils and tulips in the fall. They are available at garden centers nationwide, including Lowe’s and Home Depot, as well as specialty bulb businesses.

They thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9, depending on the variety, and do well in most any well-drained soil. Full sun is preferred but partial shade is OK. Planted where they will thrive, alliums act like other cold-hardy perennials, returning each year to bloom again.

“Another benefit: Alliums’ garlicky taste doesn’t appeal to deer, woodchucks, squirrels, voles and rabbits. For gardeners who have animal pests, this is welcome news,” says Langeveld.

Alliums add the color, height, structure and movement that can turn ordinary gardens into something special. Big blowsy pale lavender alliums like A. christophii shimmer when combined with warm yellows and oranges or dark reddish shades. Purple Sensation harmonizes beautifully with whites, blues and purples.

Once alliums bloom, they give you a few more dramatic moments. As their petals fall away, alliums set seed. As the seed heads dry, they stand tall into fall, even winter.

“The seed heads are every bit as cool as the flowers,” says Langeveld.