Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Allium sphaerocephalon

Jess91Jess91 Posts: 159
in Plants
Bought bulbs on a whim a couple of weeks ago. I don't really know that much about them.

Hoping to plant them into the border but wondering if I should start them off in pots then plant out in spring or whether just to put them straight in the ground?
Ground is clay and can get wet in winter. It has been improved but depending on rainfall could still be quite damp over winter.

Any thoughts?
Slowly building a wildlife garden, in a new build in East Yorkshire.
«134

Posts

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited October 2023
    We grew these a few years ago.
    But due to us having a rather shaded garden and not a lot of sunny spots I gave up and dug them up as they fell over and leaned a lot.
    BUT main point, (sorry for the ramble), we also have a clay soil and they did not seem to mind.
    I think I bought them a similar time to you and put them straight in.
    They grew fine and flowered nicely in our vaguely improved clay. Just the shade messed it up.

    The other nice one, nectaroscorum? spelling, also flowered but we had a drunken sinuous stalks with a nice flower at the end.

    The sphaerocephalon colour is what attracted me to them, it is lovely.
    Good Luck.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Clay isn't a problem at all, but they do need decent enough drainage. I have them in raised beds to help with that. They wouldn't cope well in the borders that are at ground level. 
    They'll tend to flop and lean to get enough sun and light though, so shady sites aren't ideal, as with most alliums. 
    They cope with the amount of rain we get here, so I wouldn't worry about that. If the drainage is adequate, they'll spread like mad once happy. I'm always pulling excess ones out  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    And they are by no stretch of the imagination pink @Fairygirl :)
    I really liked them and if I ever got a garden or a spare sunnnier spot I would try them again.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wouldn't have them if they were pink, unless it was a deep pink - I hate pastel colours. They're  a good purpley red rather than pink IMO  :)
    They're good in with other planting that can support them. They can be a bit floppy. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    I've found them to be extremely disappointing! 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2023
    I think they are a kind of 'dark raspberry' pink. Mine lean, but I quite like that. They look sculptural. I've never known them to flop. The great thing is that, for an allium, they have minimal foliage that doesn't get ratty or get in the way. I am not putting in any more this year (or iris retic) and I will be interested to see what returns.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2023
    Like most alliums, they work best massed. They look good growing through other plants, as Lunar say. This year I had them through Salvia Blue Note, which I liked a lot.

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited October 2023
    Sorry @Fairygirl , I missed the mark /did not explain properly.
    I know you, ahem ,  dislike pink , hence the comment :D>:)
    Sorry....
    To my eye they are a maroon colour.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sorry @Rubytoo- that went straight over my head!
    I like them, but they can be a bit invasive in certain parts, and the foliage is there very early, which can be a nuisance when it blocks other planting. They grow very big here.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.