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Home » Miscellaneous » ‘Millenium’ Ornamental Onion

‘Millenium’ Ornamental Onion

Updated : August 24, 2020

79 Comments

‘Millenium’ Ornamental Onion in bloom.

This is an amazing perennial that should be easily called pollinator of the year! Bees and butterflies love this plant! And please don’t refrain from using this plant because it attracts bees. That’s a good thing!

  1. It doesn’t attract bees. The bees are already there, around your house, they are attracted to this plant.
  2. When you put a plant like this in your yard the bees can do the job that they were put on this earth to do. Pollinate other plants!

I have three of these in my landscape at home and I am completely dumbfounded by the number of bees on these plants at any given time. And the bees are harmless!

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‘Millenium’ Ornamental Onion in full bloom.

These three plants are right next to our front porch. On any given day they are loaded with bees. All kinds of different bees! The bees are so interested in harvesting the nectar from these blooms they are oblivious to us sitting near by. Even when I ride by on the lawn mower the bees just keep on working as if I’m not even there.

Several bees working hard extracting the nectar from these blooms.

‘Millenium’ Ornamental Onion is super hardy member of the Allium family. These perennials over winter perfectly in containers in the nursery and they are one of the first plants to wake up in the spring. This is really a great seller for us.

They do fine in full sun but do equally well in partial shade.

They are hardy in zones 4 through 8.

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The plants grow to a height of about 20″ high and 18″ wide.

They are an earth friendly welcome addition to any landscape.

Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond.

Until then, by any and all means stay inspired!

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Comments

  1. Alice says

    December 19, 2020 at 8:02 pm

    When is the best time to transplant these in zone 6B?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      December 20, 2020 at 12:30 pm

      Alice,

      Right now, winter or early spring would be perfect.

      Reply
  2. Phyllis Poole says

    September 6, 2020 at 12:11 pm

    Even the German wasp that looks like bees don’t like to sting I but get rid of them. !!! They bore holes in wood siding of houses etc Will nest and might even bore holes in your walls and come inside your house!!
    They sleep at night! So the exterminator came at 5am to get rid of them.
    Another in a garage infestation came in the day. Because they don’t sting readily. ! They do make holes in your siding!!!
    My son had a non killer concoction He had found another site but not sure what it was!
    There is another type that make nests in the ground. They love your mulching. BUT don’t go barefoot! They sting! So so wasps. And it hurts!

    Reply
  3. Ken says

    September 2, 2020 at 7:26 am

    I have several planted in my garden. They look great planted in large groupings. They do not smell and the bees love them. Deer proof and drought tolerant. It is an easy plant to grow. It’s a fantastic plant!

    Reply
  4. CAS says

    September 1, 2020 at 12:25 am

    Mike,
    Are these anything like Garlic Chives? The bees love them but the honey in my hives does not taste like garlic!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      September 1, 2020 at 7:05 am

      I have no idea.

      Reply
  5. Bert says

    August 30, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    Great site Mike, will these onions steal my pollinators away from my fruit trees and shrubs? I’d hate to lose my food crops over an ornamental plant of no culinary use, I’d rather attract many more pollinators for my food crops. Will it help pollinate other plants if these onions are in the vicinity, or will the bees say heck with my food crops, we’ll stick with the onion. [Hudson & Landry: Ajax Airline]

    Are these onions any good for attracting parasitic wasps? Here in Wisconsin the Deer Flies are terrible, I am looking for something to get rid of them before they are born. I am tired of wearing a blue plastic hat coated in Tanglefoot, although it looks cool!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 31, 2020 at 8:12 am

      Bert,

      They bloom at a different time than your fruit trees so that shouldn’t be a problem. Not sure about the wasps, I’ve never seen a wasp on them.

      Reply
    • Marlene Levett says

      September 1, 2020 at 7:26 am

      Bert,
      You shouldn’t have a problem at all. As long as you have your vegetables and your shrubs, you will have your pollinators. Another thing that I do is when I plant my tomatoes, i plant marigolds in with them, they attract lots of pollinators and also help to ward off nematodes. 🙂 Bert, I have a friend that lives in Wisconsin, I can ask him about your deer flies…. HE is an ecologist and entomologist! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Mansour says

    August 30, 2020 at 8:23 am

    Mansour
    Hello, first of all, I would like to thank you for the useful information you provide to us. Please provide us with information on how to plant walnut seeds. Thanks.

    Reply
  7. Sandra Rust says

    August 30, 2020 at 7:47 am

    Hi and thank you for all the info! Do they have an unpleasant odor like society garlic?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:13 am

      Sandra,

      The only time I smell them is when we cut them back at the end of the season.

      Reply
  8. Keith Phipps says

    August 29, 2020 at 11:19 pm

    I live in NC and I was wondering where I could buy some of these plants? Also, can I propagate them? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:16 am

      Keith,

      Probably easiest to find them online somewhere. In the members area, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, we have sources where members can buy them for just a few dollars each. Propagation is best by division, I don’t see any patent on them, but watch for that as you search for them.

      Reply
  9. George says

    August 29, 2020 at 11:10 pm

    I want these. Is there a technical name to look for? Bulbs or seeds? Are they edible onions? I love bees and some indeed are friendly. I poked my head in the branches of my almond tree in bloom while bees worked the flowers next to my face , never paying me any mind. However, I had an experience with African bees living in my wall in Phoenix. I don’t know if they are a thing in Ohio, but they deserve their reputation for meanness and they WILL chase you. They chased me into the house and got me a couple times on the way. African bees are easily identified. You will have no doubt when they chase you. Regular bees won’t do that. .

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:16 am

      Just search the plant name and you’ll find them.

      Reply
  10. Catherine Puryear says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    Where can I find these? I live in Northeast Oklahoma and would really like to have some of these.

    Reply
  11. JACK M DICKERSON JR says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:49 pm

    like to get some

    Reply
  12. Linda says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:25 pm

    Hi Mike!
    Thank you for all of your hard work! ive learned so much from you 🙂
    I love the look of these flowers! I must ask tho..
    Do they smell oniony?
    Id love to grow them for bouquets..
    also.. lol.. id hate to have my bee hive honey ..onion smelling 😉
    (if that’s possible..lol)

    Thank you!

    Linda

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:17 am

      Linda,

      you only smell the onion when you cut the foliage.

      Reply
  13. Jill F Wright says

    August 29, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    I haven’t seen these grown in Utah. Do they need more than average water? Acidic soil? How long do they bloom? Do you propagate these with divisions?

    Thanks for the great article! The photos really made it!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:18 am

      Average amount of water, normal soil, they bloom for several weeks and are propagated by division.

      Reply
      • scott says

        August 30, 2020 at 2:15 pm

        Yes, easy to spit even for a beginner! I have some in a couple of 6ft cedar containers. I’ve split them 2 or 3 times to fill up the containers when other plants die off. I’ve given some to neighbors as well. I’m also in the camp of growing pollinator plants. Anise Hyssop is another plant bees love.

        Reply
  14. Marlene Levett says

    August 29, 2020 at 7:56 pm

    These are beautiful, where can I get them? I have pollinators and butterfly gardens! Mike, are you familiar with ornamental oregano? If so, do these also attract pollinators?
    Thank you so much! ☺

    Reply
  15. Victoria Smiley says

    August 29, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    Thank you for letting me in on this beautiful ornamental onion ‘Millenium”. Where can I purchase some of these? I live in an area that has lots of bees. Many kinds, and the wildflowers in the fields, nearby keep them busy. I would like to have more visiting my yard and I think that these are the ones. I would like to add these in. Thank you for all of the great articles and your wealth of knowledge.

    Victoria

    Reply
  16. Linda Madison says

    August 29, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    I think I remember these ornamental onions at work. They bloomed beautifully, but they had a strong onion smell! Not exactly enjoyable to walk by!!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:19 am

      These are not like that. They are very close to our porch and I don’t smell them at all.

      Reply
  17. Mary Mayfield says

    August 29, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    Where do I buy a Millenium Ornamental Onion? I have never seen one for sale.

    Reply
  18. Brenda Hansen says

    August 29, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    Do you sell these? I can’t seem to find them from the online growers I have been ordering with. Thx

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:19 am

      Brenda,

      I sell them locally, I do not ship plants.

      Reply
      • Marlene Levett says

        September 1, 2020 at 7:21 am

        Mike, is there a company that you know that sells these? I want to make sure that it is a reputable company, one that has good quality plants.
        Thank you for your help! 🙂

        Reply
        • Mike says

          September 2, 2020 at 8:14 am

          Marlene,

          In our members area, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, we have a number of wholesale sources who sell these and all kinds of other perennials for around $2.00 each. But I can’t share wholesale sources here. When shopping for plants online always check the company you are considering here: This site reviews all kinds of garden related websites. https://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/

          Reply
  19. Donald Goodearl says

    August 29, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    Where can I order these for next year? I live in NH.

    Reply
  20. Hon. Robert A. Andretta says

    August 29, 2020 at 3:06 pm

    Do the Millennium Ornamental Onion plants self propagate/spread? I see yours look pretty large in diameter. Also, must they be brought indoors for the winter in the Washington, DC area, or can they simply be left in the ground like daffodils?
    Thanks,
    Bob

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:20 am

      Mine do not re-seed and they are very hardy in Ohio.

      Reply
  21. Jack says

    August 29, 2020 at 3:06 pm

    Nice and reasonable comments about beneficial insects. I love them!

    How do you propagate ornamental onion?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:20 am

      Division.

      Reply
  22. Micheline Bercier-Lariviere says

    August 29, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Hi Mike, these plants are zoned 4 to 8. Why do you over winter these perennials in containers in the nursery? They should be able to go through the winter even left outside?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:21 am

      I just leave them right where they are all winter uncovered.

      Reply
  23. Christy says

    August 29, 2020 at 1:47 pm

    Any way Millenium Ornamental Onion’ could live in zone 9? It’s so beautiful!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:21 am

      Christy,

      All you can do is try.

      Reply
  24. June Aleck says

    August 29, 2020 at 1:42 pm

    These Alliums are also great when planted next to perennials, such as Hostas or anything that deer and rodents enjoy eating. We “trialed” them this season planted next to Hostas, Raspberry & Blueberry patches, near planted bulbs (which were all eaten last season) and the rodents and deer stayed away due to the onion aroma as these plants are in the onion family.

    Bees do love these Alliums as well as butterflies and hummingbirds. Purchased various types which will arrive this fall in order to expand the area where we will be planting more bulbs!

    Reply
  25. Shellee says

    August 29, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    Do they become a problem like wild onions. Growing EVERYWHERE!?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:22 am

      Mine have not.

      Reply
  26. David Lee says

    August 29, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    Do you sell these?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:22 am

      I only sell them locally, you can find them easily online.

      Reply
  27. Janet Wohlgemut says

    August 29, 2020 at 1:32 pm

    Do you have a good source for these, Mike? Also, it’s great to hear of an allium that overwinters in pots, but I’m curious to know how and why other alliums don’t. Any idea? Thanks again for the great ideas!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:24 am

      Janet,

      I have a great wholesale source for them, around $2.00 each I think. Ask me in the members area, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, and I’ll share with you where I get them at that price.

      Reply
  28. John says

    August 29, 2020 at 1:32 pm

    Will these Millenium Ornamental Onions plants complement Baby Gem Boxwoods. If so, I would be looking for 35 of them.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:24 am

      I’m sure they would.

      Reply
  29. Bill Smith says

    August 29, 2020 at 1:02 pm

    Hey Mike
    Where can you get them???

    Reply
  30. kim says

    August 29, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    where can i get this prennal onion plant and can i plant late in the season now thanks

    Reply
  31. Roy Pacheco says

    August 29, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    Interesting these ornamental onions.
    Are these onions edible?
    Will they survive our Canadian winters?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:26 am

      Edible? I don’t know but they are very tough here in Ohio zone 5.

      Reply
  32. jo brookins says

    August 29, 2020 at 11:19 am

    Hope they are deer proof
    and shade tolerant

    Reply
  33. Anne says

    August 29, 2020 at 11:03 am

    ‘Millenium’ ornamental onion is a Proven Winners plant. Can they be propagated for resale? I thought PW plants were protected from from retail sales unless bought wholesale from PW. What’s the scoop, Mike. I don’t want a big fine!
    Thanks,
    Anne

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:29 am

      Anne,

      Looking at the proven winners site I see no mention of a patent or trademark on them. But that’s all I know. I don’t propagate them, I buy small plugs for about $2.00 each from a reputable wholesale grower.

      Reply
  34. Suzanne says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:50 am

    How or where can I buy 3 of these?

    Reply
  35. Lisa says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:26 am

    Hi Mike,
    I was wondering if you have ever split this Allium to create more plants?
    Thanks
    Lisa

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:30 am

      Lisa,

      I’m sure you can, I never have.

      Reply
      • Scott says

        August 30, 2020 at 2:22 pm

        I”m not an expert gardener, but I have split mine 2 or 3 times with success using the “by guess and by golly” method. It’s not rocket science, and the split plants always survived.

        Reply
    • Marla says

      September 5, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      I could only find 1 pot of these at my nursery. I divided into 3 and they are all thriving.

      Reply
  36. Heather says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:19 am

    Love these and have them too. I can’t imagine why anyone would be afraid of bees. They only sting if threatened, I love them and am often fishing them out of bird baths. They need a drink but can’t swim. Please put a few leaves or sticks or something floating in your birdbath so they don’t drown and folks, please teach your kids and grandkids to love and respect them. If we don’t have bees, we will all starve – for real. Wasps are also good guys and pollinate too. I never have a problem with them either. Thanks Mike for making folks aware of the importance of bees and that they should not be feared.

    Reply
    • George says

      August 30, 2020 at 12:05 pm

      Me too Heather. I love bees. One of my most enjoyable gardening moments is getting my face into blooming fruit and nut trees to watch bees work the flowers up close. I,m careful not to disturb them though. If you think they are all friendly, be aware of Africanized bees. Commonly called killer bees for good reason. They can and do kill people and animals that disturb their hive. Love them respectfully. Each sting has a bit of poison in it and a thousand stings can be fatal. My only experience with K/Bs was in Phoenix, AZ. I never heard of them up north.

      Reply
      • Phyllis Poole says

        September 6, 2020 at 11:57 am

        The. Venom in any feared creature is an allergic reaction not a poison. Vit c will stop the reaction. Too much C will cause diarrhea. I took 30,000 mg after a spider bite with no reaction nor diarrhea
        I supposed that if you need it you won’t get diarrhea. But better that than necrosis from the bite!!’

        Reply
  37. Heather says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:19 am

    Love these and have them too. I can’t imagine why anyone would be afraid of bees. They only sting if threatened, I love them and am often fishing them out of bird baths. They need a drink but can’t swim. Please put a few leaves or stocks or something floating in your birdbath so they don’t drown and folks, please teach your kids and grandkids to love and respect them. If we don’t have bees, we will all starve – for real. Wasps are also good guys and pollinate too. I never have a problem with them either. Thanks Mike for making folks aware of the importance of bees and that they should not be feared.

    Reply
  38. Heather says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:18 am

    Love these and have them too. I can’t imagine why anyone would be afraid of bees. They only sting if threatened, I love them and am often fishing them out of bird baths. They need a drink but can’t skim. Please put a few leaves or stocks or something floating in your birdbath so they don’t drown and folks, please teach your kids and grandkids to love and respect them. If we don’t have bees, we will all starve – for real. Wasps are also good guys and pollinate too. I never have a problem with them either. Thanks Mike for making folks aware of the importance of bees and that they should not be feared.

    Reply
  39. Brenda Johnson says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:12 am

    Absolutely beautiful
    What zones does this plant thrive in

    Reply
  40. Dyce says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:09 am

    Hey Mike, You forgot to add it was the 2018 Perennial Plant of the Year, it’s drought tolerant, deer resistant, and easy to propagate by bulb division every few years!

    Reply
  41. Jackie Bedwell says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:07 am

    How long does the “Millennium Ornamental Onion” plant stay in bloom?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:31 am

      At least 3 weeks, probably longer.

      Reply
  42. Jim says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:03 am

    So where can we get the ‘Millenium’ Ornamental Onion?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:32 am

      Jim,

      You can find them online, our members, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, buy them wholesale for about $2.00 each.

      Reply
  43. Donna Reeves says

    August 29, 2020 at 10:00 am

    Sounds wonderful but I am in zone 10.

    Reply
  44. charles Hulett says

    August 29, 2020 at 9:46 am

    THE BEES ARE TOO BUSY DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO LVE THEY WON’T BOTHER YOU UNLESS YOU REALLY MESS WITH THEM

    Reply
  45. Lorraine says

    August 29, 2020 at 9:39 am

    Are they edible?

    Reply
  46. JOSH says

    August 29, 2020 at 9:29 am

    Hi Mike, these plants are great and loaded with bees and butterflies. These are not pateneted right – how to propagate? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      August 30, 2020 at 8:32 am

      Josh,

      By division.

      Reply
  47. AnnMarie Vernese says

    August 29, 2020 at 9:26 am

    Mike
    I purchased a Millennium Ornamental 4 years ago ..2 years ago in Autumn I split the plant ..now have 2 gorgeous plants ..
    Going to split both this Autumn!
    The bees defiantly love this plant ..love watching them ! Pollinate on Bees! 🐝

    Reply

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