Big bold allium collection
allium collection
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Fast
- Hardiness: Fully hardy
- 5 × Allium cristophii: Huge globes of small star-shaped, pinkish-purple flowers appear in summer above narrow, grey-green leaves. In bloom these fabulous globes - up to 20cm (8in) in diameter - have a metallic sheen. Grows to 60cm.
- 10 × Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation': Large rounded flowerheads are crowded with a mass of purple, star-shaped flowers, each with a green bead-like eye. An impressive border perennial. Grows to 80cm.
- 5 × Allium hollandicum: Slender mid-green leaves start to die back as the densely packed umbels of purplish-pink flowers appear. Well suited to gravel or prairie-style planting schemes. Grows to 1m.
- 5 × Allium stipitatum 'Violet Beauty': Elegant, slender stems are topped with somewhat flat-bottomed, dome-shaped clusters of violet flowers, which mix easily with most shades of blue and purple. Grows to 1m.
- 5 × Allium 'Purple Rain': Holder of a prestigious Award of Garden Merit, this gorgeous allium was one of the best performers at a recent RHS trial. It is easy to grow, and will reliably produce its open heads of star-shaped flowers on sturdy stems that stand up well in poor weather conditions. A cross between the ever-popular A. 'Purple Sensation' and A. cristophii, this comes highly recommended, and is ideal for adding early summer colour and structure. Grows to 1m.
- Garden care: Avoid excessive moisture from late summer when they become dormant. Over-large clumps can be lifted and divided in autumn or spring.
These popular perennials are highly prized for their spectacular flowerheads, which will add colour and structure to the late spring and early summer border. Most of the alliums offer a long period of interest and will help attract beneficial insects including bees, and they are also valuable for cutting and adding to fresh or dried arrangements. Originating from dry, mountainous regions, they are easy to grow and will thrive in sunny spots with reasonably fertile, well drained soil.
In each collection you will receive the following:
- Pets: TOXIC if eaten; Humans: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten