About
Allium 'Guna' is a bulbous perennial that features elongated, strap-like leaves of a mid-green hue. In June, it produces large, densely-clustered spherical clusters of star-shaped flowers that exhibit a purple-pink coloration, rising on upright stems that can reach heights of up to 1.2 meters. As the flowers bloom, the foliage tends to wilt and may turn brown, so it is advisable to position these bulbs alongside other plants that can effectively mask the dying leaves. This species is particularly beneficial for pollinators, drawing in bees and other insects, making it a valuable choice for gardens focused on 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
- South-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
- Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens, City and courtyard 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 offsets to obtain plants the same as the mother bulb, which can be carefully detached by lifting the bulb after flowering has finished. See bulb propagation. Propagation by seed may not produce plants that are true, as this is a hybrid plant
- 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