This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

• Position: full sun
• Soil: well-drained, moderately fertile, humus-rich, loamy soil
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: July to September
• Hardiness: frost hardy (may need winter protection)
  
  Pretty star-shaped pink flowers, each with a darker eye, appear in loose clusters on top of upright stems over a prolonged period from midsummer. Flourishing in a sunny, sheltered spot, it is ideal for planting in drifts through a gravel garden or freely draining border, and it also looks great when potted up for the patio. A member of the same family as the alliums, it has slender, strap-shaped foliage, which smells just like onions.
  
  
• Garden care: Split and divide large clumps in spring. Keep almost dry when plants are dormant, but water freely when actively growing. In colder regions, grow them in pots so they can be overwintered in a sheltered spot.