Allium stipitatum
ornamental onion or allium bulbs
- 3 × bulbs
- £9.99
- available to order from summer
- 9 × bulbs
- £19.00 £19.98
- available to order from summer
Delivery options
- Bulbs (only) £4.95
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to July
- Hardiness: fully hardy
- Bulb size: 18
Tightly packed rounded clusters of star-shaped flowers, top the sturdy, upright stems of this bulbous perennial in early summer. Weave Allium stipitatum through a mixed or herbaceous border and it will offer both colour and structural interest - but plant more than you need as you'll want to cut some for the vase. Even after the last flower has faded, the seedheads will remain interesting, and these can be left in place or collected and added to dried arrangements. Keep in mind that the strap-shaped foliage will often have died back completely before the flowers appear, so to disguise this, it's best planted amongst leafy, lower-growing plants.
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. 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.
- Pets: TOXIC if eaten; Humans: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten
