Allium ‘Purple Sensation’
Here comes autumn… And along with it comes an incredible selection of autumn-planting bulbs to get in the ground now, ready for a fantastic show come next spring. But what should you plant?
With just so many Crocus, Daffodils, Hyacinth, Snowdrops, and of course Alliums to choose from, it can be tricky to set your sights on one. To make things a touch easier for you, our YouGarden Plant of the Month for September is one of our favourites alliums – just don’t tell the others!
And if you haven’t grown Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ before now, you really are missing out…
Plant these gorgeous purple beauties now and, as spring 2027 begins to hand over to summer, strong upright stems rise above the border carrying perfectly rounded flowerheads packed with scores of tiny star-shaped blooms. The effect is wonderfully architectural, but doesn’t ever feel heavy. It looks like you’ve got coloured globes floating above your border.
Reaching up to around 1m, it adds height without taking up masses of ground space, returns year after year and is reliably hardy across the UK. It is also an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner and is recommended by the RHS as a ‘Plant for Pollinators’ – bees and other beneficial insects make straight for them.
And when flowering finishes, leave the sculptural seedheads standing. They keep the show going beautifully.
Why Are Alliums Such Treasured Spring And Early Summer Flowers?
Alliums do something very few spring bulbs can. Tulips and daffodils give us blocks of flowers closer to the ground, but alliums lift the display upwards and closer to eye-level, carrying distinctive globe-shaped heads on tall, slender stems.
‘Purple Sensation’ can rise to around 90cm to 1m in the border, yet the stems take up very little room, so you can thread bulbs between established perennials rather than sacrificing valuable planting space.
We particularly like them repeated in loose groups through a border, where those round flowerheads create rhythm and draw your eye from one part of the garden to another.
Expect ‘Purple Sensation’ to typically start flowering around mid-May, just as many tulips are finishing and early-summer perennials are gathering pace. By flowering time, its strap-like foliage is already fading, so neighbouring geraniums, grasses and other perennials can disguise the leaves while the flowerheads appear to float above them.
Purchased Your Allium Bulbs? Here’s How To Plant And Care For Them
How to Plant Allium Bulbs in Autumn:
- Find a location where the soil drains well and where they will receive full sun.
- Plant allium bulbs in early to mid-autumn in a sheltered site to prevent the top-heavy flower spikes from blowing over.
- Dig over the soil and remove any weeds before planting.
- Water well after planting, saturating the soil around the bulbs. Once established, alliums are drought tolerant.
- In borders, plant bulbs in early autumn at a depth of about four times the diameter of the bulbs.
- In containers, alliums will do well in deep pots with a good general-purpose potting compost with a handful of horticultural grit added.
Caring for Allium Bulbs in Your Garden:
- After planting, feed with a general-purpose feed. Our Blooming Fast Superior Soluble Fertiliser is fantastic for this!
- Dried flower heads can be removed and made into indoor decorations or left on the plants to self-seed.
- Divide alliums every three to four years or when the plants begin to look overcrowded and blooming decreases.
- Lift the bulbs with a garden fork or spade and pull the bulbs apart.
- Replant some in the original location and plant the remainder in a new location.
Pruning and Trimming Advice for Alliums:
- The leaves die down at flowering time, so it’s best to plant alliums where this foliage is masked by that of other plants.
- Avoid removing them while still green, as they provide the bulbs with energy for the following season.
The YouGarden Top Tip!
- Underplant with hostas, ferns or other low-growing, hardy perennial plants which will help to disguise the leaves as they fade.
