Plant details
There are several ball-headed kinds of flowering onion, and this is the largest and perhaps the most eye-catching of them all. Sometimes called the 'Star of Persia,' it is a native of Turkey and Iran, and loves a warm sunny site where it will tolerate competition from tree and hedge roots. Each huge, spherical flower-head contains up to 80 purple flowers with slightly flattened petals that emphasise the perfect ball shape. As these fade, they resemble brown stars, and the complete stem will last for many weeks as part of a dried flower arrangement. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Family: Alliaceae
Genus: Allium
Species: cristophii
Plant type: Summer/autumn blooming bulb
Flower colour: Purple
Feature: Attractive seed-heads, Flowers
Sun exposure: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained/light
Skill level: Beginner
Height: 60cm
Spread: 15cm
Flowering period: July to August
Reader reviews
Be the first reader to review the Allium cristophii Ornamental onion!
Add your own review
Please register or login to add a review
