Flowers · Bulbs
Purple Sensation allium
Allium 'Purple Sensation'
A drumstick allium with metallic purple globes on bare stems in late spring. The leaves appear early and often look tired by the time the flower opens.
Growing conditions
Soilchalk, loam, sand
Moisturewell-drained
pHneutral, alkaline
Position
SunFull sun
Aspecteast, south, west
Exposuresheltered, exposed
HardinessH6
Size
Time to maturityFlowers the first year, then multiplies slowly
Max height0.8–1 m
Max spread0.1–0.2 m
In the garden
Plant bulbs deeply in autumn in soil that drains freely. Hide the fading leaves behind the front edge of the border.
Usually trouble-free. Waterlogged soil rots the bulbs.
Colour and scent
A mark in a season means the plant is doing that for at least part of it.
| Season | Foliage | Flower | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Leaves | purple | — |
| Summer | Leaves | purple | — |
| Autumn | — | — | — |
| Winter | — | — | — |
- JanDormant
- FebDormant
- MarFoliage
- AprFoliage
- Maypurple
- Junpurple
- JulDormant
- AugDormant
- SepDormant
- OctDormant
- NovDormant
- DecDormant
Jobs
These dates suit a mild southern garden. A northern or Scottish plan shifts spring and autumn jobs by a fortnight.
20 October
Plant bulbs
Plant Purple Sensation 12–15 cm deep. A handful of grit under the bulb helps on heavy soil.
15 June
Leave seedheads
The dried globes can stay for structure, or cut them before the seed scatters.