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 different varieties of alliums, pronounced “al-ee-um,” each with its own special 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 and dried flowers.

Technically, the allium’s round flower is called an umbel, which is an orb of florets facing outward, according to Hans Langeveld of Longfield-Gardens in a news release. The more florets there are per orb, the more dense and velvety its appearance, according to bulb experts. 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 three to four feet high or more,” says Langeveld of www.Longfield-Gardens.com (855-534-2733), 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.

The bulbs thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9, depending on the variety, and do well in most any soil as long as it is well drained.