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Allium sphaerocephalum

6 years ago

Two shots of this Allium taken at Hornbaker Gardens in Princeton, IL. Not as popular as Summer Beauty, Millennium or Windy City but far more intense. Commonly referred to as 'drumstick onion'.




Comments (14)

  • 6 years ago

    Beautiful! Assume they are perennials?

    KD Landscape thanked Architectural Notice
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    One of my absolute favorite alliums/flowers. Nice shots!

    KD Landscape thanked rob333 (zone 7b)
  • 6 years ago

    I much prefer this richly colored one over alliums that are pale.

    KD Landscape thanked FrozeBudd_z3/4
  • 6 years ago

    I just like saying the name......... :-)

    KD Landscape thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I think it's caeruleum with its small blue flowers that has seeded itself around my yard with abandonment, it also produces utter mass clusters of bulbs! Now, on my hit list and being eradicated!

    KD Landscape thanked FrozeBudd_z3/4
  • 6 years ago

    And for me I can't get sphaerocephalum or caeruleum to last more than a season or two let alone self seed.

    KD Landscape thanked rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
  • 6 years ago

    Can these be planted in spring or are they planted as bulbs in fall? Will seeds produce flowering plants the same season? I had them snd loved them for just 1-2 seasons. I was unsure if I weeded them, mistaking them for onion grass. The other mysterious decline has been muscari! Squirrels abound here but I thought muscari were off the menu.

    KD Landscape thanked kitasei
  • 6 years ago

    It has been my experience planting them in the fall (as bulbs) but I have occasionally seen a nursery sell them in the early summer as an above ground plant.

    KD Landscape thanked rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
  • 6 years ago

    Definitely not my favorite allium, re-seeds everywhere. Another drawback for me is the instead of the bulbs increasing in size from year to year the bulbs break apart into many smaller bulblets. Anyone else have this experience?

    KD Landscape thanked felisar (z5)
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    It had apparently lightly reseeded at Hornbaker Gardens where I took this photo, but did not appear to be problematic. On the other hand, I have no clue how long the planting had been in place at that point.

  • 6 years ago

    I have grown it for decades now, so long lived for me and has reseeded moderately enough that I am happy about it. If it became an issue I would deadhead it.

    My poor caeruleum is practically buried between Oriental poppies & Daylilies. I will see if I can rescue the one or two remaining. I have been beyond mean to them.

    KD Landscape thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
  • 6 years ago

    I’ll have to try them! I like things that spread and move around, and alliums have been great for blooming in between the spring blooms and summer flowers. Here are some of my alliums from last spring, along with dianthus. Millenniums?



    My biggest allium disappointment so far has been “Persian Star.” The foliage takes up lots of room, and the stalks are not very long, and the flowers are pale and get lost in my garden. They were pretty expensive, too.

    KD Landscape thanked Faith
  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Don't think that you have Millennium there. Yours look more like Allium giganteum and they are making a very nice display!

    Here is a below average shot of Allium 'Millennium' scattered about, but it's the only one I have in my files.

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