• Small dense oval flowerheads turn from green to wine-red
• Flowers in mid and late summer
• Great for pollinators
• Fully established spread: 8cm
• Planting depth: 10cm

Allium sphaerocephalon is an unusual allium with small oval flowerheads that change colour as the florets open, starting out pale green and turning rich wine-red. Bobbing on long stems, the flowers look beautiful combined with ornamental grasses and are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.

How you will receive your bulbs:

Selected by our team of experts and sent from our nursery, you will receive spring-flowering bulbs in the autumn in a breathable mesh bag. This is to keep the bulbs together in a pack that is nice and airy – perfect to keep the bulbs healthy while in transit.

Can’t plant straight away?

Keep your bulbs in a cool, light, and dry place and preferably hanging on a hook so that air can get to the bulbs at all angles. Ideally, you should aim to plant your bulbs within a week of receiving them, but if this is not possible, store them in a cool, dark place until you are ready to plant them.

Planting tips and hints:

Planting in the ground: You can plant your allium bulbs any time between September and November. Dig a hole with a trowel or a bulb planter 3 times the depth of the bulb, approximately 10cm deep. Plant bulbs approximately 15cm apart (for smaller alliums) or up to 35cm apart for the very large-flowered varieties like Allium ‘Globemaster’. If your soil is heavy, mix in quality bulb compost and potting grit to give them the best start. Place the bulb in the hole with the tip facing upwards, then fill the hole and compact the soil gently. Water in to moisten the soil and apply a bone meal fertiliser to encourage flowering.

Planting in containers: Place a layer of stones or gravel at the bottom of a large container in order to aid drainage. Fill the container with bulb compost to approximately 20cm below the rim. Place bulbs approximately 5-8cm apart ensuring the tips face up. Fill the container to about 3cm from the top of the rim making sure to firm the compost between the bulbs. Water just enough to settle the soil.

Feeding and aftercare: When feeding in spring, use a liquid feed high in potash so it gets to the growing bulb quickly, feeding the roots. There’s no need to deadhead Allium flowerheads unless you want to, as they look good in the border for a long time even after they have dried. Once they start to look untidy, cut the flowerstems down. Remove the leaves once they have died back.

Click here to view our full allium bulb growing guide.

*Planting and flowering months below are subject to seasonal weather conditions.