Most onions, edible and ornamental, evolved in the middle East, Southern Europe or other Mediterranean climates— where summers see almost no rain and limey soils bake and crack.
I know this comment is ridiculously late for this post but I am glad to discover that alliums just won't come back down here. Ever. They grew beautifully at the farm in Alaska, on glacial grit, mostly returning for a next year or two. I bought some marked down Persian Blue ones before I left and I am going to put them in a big pot with lots of sand and hope they will give me one spectacular show!
I know this comment is ridiculously late for this post but I am glad to discover that alliums just won't come back down here. Ever. They grew beautifully at the farm in Alaska, on glacial grit, mostly returning for a next year or two. I bought some marked down Persian Blue ones before I left and I am going to put them in a big pot with lots of sand and hope they will give me one spectacular show!