About

Produces sizable purple flower clusters in an umbrella shape during early summer. Grows up to 1.2 meters tall.

About the genus

Allium consists of bulbous herbaceous perennials characterized by a pronounced onion or garlic aroma. They feature linear, strap-like, or cylindrical leaves that arise from the base. The flowers, which can be star-shaped or bell-shaped, are arranged in an umbel atop a stem that lacks leaves.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Bulbs
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
1-1.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
1-2 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Fragrance
Foliage

Care notes

Cultivation
Easy to grow in fertile well-drained soil in sun. Add grit when grown in clay soils to improve drainage. Plant in autumn. See allium cultivation
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by offsets
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to onion white rot and downy mildews