Allium stipitatum Album

With its large, dense, and round white umbels, adorned with numerous small star-shaped flowers, Allium stipitatum 'Album' is a must-have in borders and dried bouquets. This variety has a sturdy stem that allows it to withstand the wind, like tall grasses. This wild-looking plant is vigorous and long-lasting in well-drained soil and sunny exposures. It also tolerates drought very well.

Allium stipitatum 'Album' is a spontaneous white mutation of A. stipitatum, native to Central Asia (Turkestan, Afghanistan). This herbaceous bulbous plant belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, like cultivated garlic, onion, and leek. It has a fleshy storage organ that multiplies by forming bulblets and shares with other members of its family a noticeable onion or garlic smell when its foliage is crushed. The inflorescences, perched at over 1.2m (4ft) in height, correspond to large round umbels that can measure up to 13cm (6in) in diameter, and are made up of numerous pure white star-shaped flowers. This flowering occurs between May and June. The foliage consists of 4 to 6 wide basal leaves with a grey-green colour. The leaves are somewhat villous. The foliage yellows and disappears at the same time as the flowering appears, which is a good adaptation to hot and dry summer conditions.

Easy to grow, the majestic, Allium stipitatum 'Album' appreciates any type of moist but well-drained soil during its growing period. It prefers a sunny location. It can be planted in beds, borders, and pots on a balcony or patio. Add a unique touch to your bouquets with its fresh or dried flowers. Plant them in groups of 5, nestled among ornamental grasses, perennials, or near roses or yellow broom. Plant them with topiary boxwood balls for a spectacular sculptural effect. You can also plant them with A. macleanii, which has the same height and also blooms in May and June.

Small vegetable garden tip: plant some ornamental garlic in the middle of strawberry plants to protect them from fungal diseases. They will add a few pleasant blooms that are sometimes lacking among vegetables.