Allium 'Drumstick'
Drumstick allium - Deep maroon oval shaped flowers atop long straight stems.
Allium sphaerocephalum
Approx 20 seeds
How to make these beauties grow
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Sow: Autumn - Spring
How: Surface sow and cover lightly. Light required for germination. If germination has not occurred within 4 weeks - cold stratify. Place in the fridge for 4 weeks and then return to the warmth. Germination can be erratic.
Space: 5-10cm
Height: 60cm
Where: Full sun - part shade
Pick: When the flower heads have coloured up.
Perennial
Notes From The Garden
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Avoid damaging the stem when picking to avoid releasing the onion odour.
When grown from seed alliums take years to flower. In the 1st year they will put on lot of leafy growth, and then eventually die back. Under the surface however it is forming a small bulblet. In the 2nd year smaller varieties (such as the Drumstick Allium) may have a few small flowers, however the process will repeat forming a bigger bulb. Only into its 3rd - 4th year will you get a prolific amount of blooms.
Eventually the bulb will naturalise. This is the same no matter who or where you buy your seeds from.
Photo: Bluestone Perennials