About
Bulbous perennial about 1m tall, with short rhizomes and narrow, stem-clasping, blue-green leaves. Pale yellow-green, ball-shaped flowers are about 2.5cm across and appear in mid-summer on twisty stems; suited to wet soils.
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 typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Native toCentral Romania to Mongolia
FragranceFoliage
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile soil that is not too dry, in full sun. Suitable for wet soils. Plant bulbs 5-10cm deep in autumn. See allium cultivation for more information
PruningNo pruning required, other than to remove old flowered stems and foliage
PropagationPropagate by seed when just ripe or in spring; or propagate 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