HOW TO GROW ALLIUM 'PURPLE SENSATION'

How to grow Allium 'Purple Sensation'




More accurately known as Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation', and commonly as the Dutch garlic 'Purple Sensation', this outstanding ornamental onion cultivar is a popular bulb-forming perennial whose origins are found in Iran and Kyrgyzstan. It is a selected cultivar developed by Dutch plant breeder Mr J. Bijl in 1963.

It is a popular late-spring flowering garden plant, noted for its gorgeous ball-shaped blooms. Under favourable conditions you can expect it to grow to an approximate height of 90 cm, with a width of 30cm. The mid-green, strap-shaped leaves can grow to 60 cm in length. The rich-purple almost metallic blooms are formed in large umbels up to 15 cm in diameter.

How to grow Allium 'Purple Sensation'
Allium 'Purple Sensation' will perform best in a light sandy, well drained soil in full sun. Avoid planting in cold, wet or waterlogged soils as the bulbs are prone to rot. When planting in heavy soils dig in plenty of horticultural grit-sand and/or organic compost beforehand.

Allium 'Purple Sensation' bulbs become available for purchase as pre-packed bulbs from the autumn onwards. Plant the bulbs to a depth of 10 cm and a distance of 10 cm apart, adding a slow release fertiliser high in potash in poor soils. Plant too close and you will achieve smaller blooms as the bulbs complete for the available nutrients.

After 2 to 3 years the flowers can become noticeably smaller due to the overcrowding of newly formed bulbs growing off of the parent bulb. In the spring these clumps can be lifted, divided and replanted to revitalize your display.

Keep the soil moist during the growing period, but once the leaves start to died off, watering should be stopped to reduce the risk of the bulbs rotting.

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' bulbs received the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993.

Images copyright of Simon Eade - gardenofeaden@gmail.com

For related articles click onto the following links:
HOW TO GET RID OF WILD GARLIC
HOW TO GROW ALLIUM 'PURPLE SENSATION'


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