
The Royal Horticultural Society trialled alliums in 2016 and these were some of the best, each one winning an Award of Garden Merit.
Alliums are popular perennials are highly prized for their spectacular flowerheads, which will add colour and structure to the late spring and early summer border. Most offer a long period of interest and will help attract beneficial insects including bees. 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.
Alliums are popular perennials are highly prized for their spectacular flowerheads, which will add colour and structure to the late spring and early summer border. Most offer a long period of interest and will help attract beneficial insects including bees. 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.
How to care for Award-winning allium collection:
Allium bulbs are easy to grow in a sunny spot with freely drained soil, or a good quality potting compost. Ideally they should be planted in September or October, but could also be planted in early November in milder regions.
While keeping the size of the flowerhead in mind and avoiding overcrowding, dig holes roughly three times as deep as the diameter of the bulb and place them at the base, pointy side up before gently infilling and watering to settle them in.
In early spring, as growth begins, apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser, and allow the plants to die back naturally and completely before tidying away.
While keeping the size of the flowerhead in mind and avoiding overcrowding, dig holes roughly three times as deep as the diameter of the bulb and place them at the base, pointy side up before gently infilling and watering to settle them in.
In early spring, as growth begins, apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser, and allow the plants to die back naturally and completely before tidying away.
What's included:
In each collection you will receive the following:
- 25 × Allium sphaerocephalon: Ideal for naturalised planting schemes, the small, oval-shaped flowerheads of this easy to grow ornamental onion turn from green to purple as they mature. Grows to 90cm.
- 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 '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.
- 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 cristophii: Up to 100 slender-petalled, greyish lilac flowers form large (up to 25cm in diameter), particularly showy heads, which remain attractive well after the flowers have faded. Grows to 60cm.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This bulb dies back after flowering each year and enters a period of rest ahead of regrowth the following season.
-
Pets: TOXIC if eaten; Humans: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten
Product options

1 × collection | 50 bulbs
£26.45
£0.53 each
available to order from autumn
Unavailable

2 + 1 FREE collections | 150 bulbs
£52.90
£0.35 each
available to order from autumn
Unavailable
1
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