About
Vigorous, bulbous perennial to 1m tall, with long, strap-shaped greyish-green basal leaves dying down by flowering time. Flowers to 8cm across are vivid deep rosy-purple, in crowded spherical umbels, of often up to 50 or more star-shaped flowers, in summer.
About the genus
Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
FragranceFoliage
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun and 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
PruningNo pruning required, other than to remove old flowered stems and foliage
PropagationPropagate by offsets which can be carefully detached by lifting the bulb after flowering has finished. See bulb propagation
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to allium leaf miner and onion fly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to onion white rot, and onion downy mildew