Alliums

The onions comprise a huge group of plants numbering well over 500 species. Some are edible and some are not, and all of them exude a distinctly onion-like scent when crushed or broken. They are rarely troubled by pests such as rabbits or deer and have for thousands of years enjoyed a reputation as repelling troublesome insects, while attracting beneficial ones (such as bees and butterflies) by means of their blossoms.

The cooking onion (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum) are both things you might be growing anyway, so why not tuck them into out of the way corners here and there in your perennials beds. They will be unnoticed, and may well have the benefit of repelling pests and disease.

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) have beautiful pink blooms that draw bees and butterflies and we also find their leaves quite tasty. I have no issue with planting my chives in with the lilies as they provide blossoms before the lilies are in flower and they very well may aid in pest control.

Ornamental alliums such as the hybrids ‘Purple Sensation’ and ‘Globemaster’ are said to be equally as effective in repelling “undesirables” and have beautiful blossoms too!