About

Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii 'Green Drops' is a bulbous perennial that loses its leaves in the fall. This plant can function both as an ornamental feature and as a vegetable for culinary use. It features elongated, narrow leaves of a mid-green hue and produces compact, round clusters of deep pink blooms atop upright stems that can reach heights of 1.8 meters (6 feet) during July and August. These flowers are highly appealing to bees and various pollinators, making it a beneficial choice for gardens aimed at supporting wildlife.

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, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

West-facing, South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Plant type

Bulbs

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to full height

1-2 years

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens

Fragrance

Foliage

Care notes

Cultivation

Easy to grow in full sun and a fertile well-drained soil. It is best to grow in containers where garden soil is heavy clay and prone to saturation over winter. See allium cultivation

Pruning

No pruning required, other than to remove old flowered stems and foliage

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sowing in containers in a cold frame when just ripe or in the spring and by offsets which can be carefully detached by lifting the bulb after flowering has finished. See bulb propagation

Pest resistance

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and allium leaf miner

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to onion white rot, and onion downy mildew