About

Allium 'Powder Puff' is a compact perennial that reaches a height of up to 50 cm. It features narrow, strap-like leaves in a mid-green hue and produces rounded clusters of star-like flowers in a violet-purple shade, blooming from late spring through early summer.

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
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
1-2 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Fragrance
Foliage
Toxicity
Bulbs may irritate skin or aggravate skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow 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
Pruning
No pruning required, other than to remove old flowered stems and foliage
Propagation
Propagate by offsets which can be carefully detached by lifting the bulb after flowering has finished. See bulb propagation
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to allium leaf miner and onion fly
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to onion white rot, and onion downy mildew