How to Plant Allium Purple Sensation Bulbs
Plant Allium Purple Sensation bulbs from September to December, 10 cm deep and 15 cm apart, with the pointed end up. Choose a sunny or lightly shaded spot with soil that drains well, and water them in after planting. They flower in May and June at around 75 cm. After flowering, let the leaves die back naturally and give the bulbs a slow-release feed so they flower again next year.
Allium Purple Sensation is an ornamental onion with deep purple, ball-shaped flowers on tall, straight stems. In late spring the globes seem to float above the rest of the border, and bees and butterflies love them. The bulbs are easy to plant and come back year after year if you give them a good start.
When should you plant allium bulbs?
From September to December, as long as the ground is not frozen. Planting in autumn gives the bulbs time to root before winter, so they are ready to grow as soon as spring arrives.
Where do alliums grow best?
In full sun or light shade, in soil that drains well.
Bulbs dislike standing in water, which makes them rot. Loosen the soil thoroughly before planting and work in compost or other organic matter, especially on heavy ground. That improves the structure and helps water drain away.
How deep and how far apart?
Planting depth: 10 cm.
Spacing: 15 cm between bulbs.
Flower height: around 75 cm.
Flowering: May to June.
Set each bulb with the pointed end facing up, cover it with soil and press it down lightly.
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100 Muscari Armeniacum Bulbs (XXL Bulb Size 9/10 cm)
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How do you plant allium bulbs step by step?
1. Prepare the soil. Loosen it well and mix in organic matter if it is heavy or compacted.
2. Dig the holes. Make them 10 cm deep and 15 cm apart, or dig out a wider area for a group.
3. Place the bulbs. Pointed end up, then cover with soil.
4. Water them in. A good soak after planting gets the roots going. After that, keep the soil slightly moist in dry spells without overwatering.
What can you plant with alliums?
Alliums stand tall above lower spring flowers, so they combine well with tulips and grape hyacinths. Put Muscari at the front, tulips in between and the alliums behind, and the same border flowers from spring into early summer. Planting in groups rather than single rows gives the strongest effect.
Can you grow alliums in pots?
Yes. Use a deep pot with drainage holes and good, free-draining potting soil, and plant at the same depth of 10 cm. Make sure the pot does not stand in water over winter.
What should you do after alliums have flowered?
Let the leaves die back naturally and give the bulbs a slow-release feed.
The leaves are how the bulb builds up energy for next year, so do not cut them off while they are still green. A slow-release feed after flowering strengthens the bulbs for the following season. Their sturdy stems also make alliums good cut flowers, so you can take a few for the vase and leave the rest for the bees.
Do alliums come back every year?
Yes. Allium Purple Sensation is hardy and flowers again year after year when the bulbs are planted in soil that drains well and the leaves are left to die back after flowering.
In short: plant from September to December, 10 cm deep and 15 cm apart, pointed end up, in sun or light shade and soil that drains well. Water them in. Enjoy the purple globes in May and June, let the leaves die back and feed after flowering so they come back next year.
Product |
What it does in this job, and when you need it |
XXL bulbs (12 cm+) for deep purple globes of around 75 cm in May and June. 50, 100, 250 or 500 bulbs. |
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Low blue grape hyacinths for the front of the border, in front of the alliums. |
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Spring colour between the alliums before they open. |
