Allium caeruleum

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|name=blue-of-the-heavens
Лук голубой
棱叶薤 leng ye xie

| taxon = Allium caeruleum

| parent = Allium subg. Allium

| image = Allium caeruleum - Lemaire.jpg

|image_caption=1847 illustrationillustration from Flore des serres et des jardins de l’Europe by Charles Lemaire and others. Gent, Louis van Houtte, 1847, volume 3 (plate 300).

| authority = Pall.

|synonyms=*Allium azureum Ledeb.

• Allium caerulescens G.Don
• Allium viviparum Kar. & Kir.

|synonyms_ref=[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-295199 The Plant List]

}}

Allium caeruleum (blue globe onion, blue ornamental onion, blue-of-the-heavens, blue-flowered garlic; syn. Allium azureum Ledeb.) is an ornamental bulbous plant of the onion genus, native to Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Siberia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang).{{Cite web |url=http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-spring/Alliuca.htm |title=NC State University: Allium caeruleum |access-date=2007-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704230918/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-spring/Alliuca.htm |archive-date=2007-07-04 |url-status=dead}}[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027453 Flora of China Allium caeruleum 棱叶薤 leng ye xie ]Peter Simon von Pallas. 1773. Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des russischen Reichs 2: 727, pl. R. In these regions, it is found on dry slopes, plains, and steppes.

This plant is cited in the Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe puis L'illustration horticole by Charles Antoine Lemaire. It grows to 80 cm (31"), producing strap-shaped leaves and small globes (umbels) of blue flowers in early summer. The one-inch wide globular flower heads attract butterflies.{{Cite web |title=Allium caeruleum (Ornamental Onion) |url=https://www.gardenia.net/plant/allium-caeruleum-ornamental-onion|access-date=2021-05-17 |website=Gardenia.net}} The plant has been granted the British Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (1993).{{cite web |title=Allium caeruleum AGM |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=92 |work=RHS Plant Finder |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|access-date=27 July 2013|archive-date=18 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318224424/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=92|url-status=dead}}

A. caeruleum thrives in well-drained soil in full to partial sun.{{Cite web |title=Boston Bulbs Wholesale - Allium Azureum Bulbs - Boston Bulbs Wholesale |url=https://www.bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk/prod/azureum-caeruleum-allium-bulbs/208|access-date=2021-05-17 |website=www.bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk}} It is deer-resistant and suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4–8.{{Cite web |title=Allium caeruleum - Plant Finder |url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282298|access-date=2021-05-17 |website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}}