Allium macranthum
Nodding onion
Location
The Garden
Description:
A hardy ornamental onion, from Asia, up to 60cm in height, that has very narrow leaves and produces loose umbels of nodding, long-stalked, plum-purple pendulous bell shaped flowers in early summer. It is a vigorous grower and spreads quickly. A robust Allium but delicate in appearance with its held in heads of up to 20 or more. The mid green leaves are approximately 45 cms long, channelled and strap shaped. Similar to A.cernum its North American cousin but over twice the size.
A. cernuum is a clump-forming bulbous plant with narrow, strap-shaped leaves and erect stems, nodding at the tips and bearing an umbel of bell-shaped pink flowers in summer
Site and Care:
Plant the bulbs 5cm to 10cm (2in to 4in) deep in autumn, in moist but well-drained soil, of any type, in a sunny position. Divide between February and April.