Allium stipitatum Violet Beauty

Allium stipitatum 'Violet Beauty' is a lovely variety of ornamental garlic with delicately scented mauve-violet flowers. With its dense and almost round umbels, adorned with numerous small star-shaped flowers, this allium is perfect in blue and purple flower beds. This variety has a slim but sturdy stem, resistant to wind, like tall grasses. This wildly charming plant is vigorous and long-lasting in well-drained soil and sunny locations. It also tolerates drought very well.

Allium stipitatum 'Violet Beauty' is a horticultural variety derived from A. stipitatum, native to central Asia. 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 1m (3ft) in height, correspond to large round umbels that can measure up to 13cm (6in) in diameter, and are made up of numerous mauve star-shaped flowers highlighted with violet. This flowering period is from May to June. The slightly hairy foliage consists of 4 to 6 wide basal leaves with a greyish-green color. It 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 and majestic, Allium stipitatum and its varieties appreciate any type of moist but well-drained soil during the growing season. It likes dry soil in summer. It prefers a sunny location. Perfect in flower beds and borders, it can also be grown on a balcony or patio. Its foliage and flowers will add a unique touch to fresh or dried bouquets. Plant it in groups of 5 among ornamental grasses and perennials, or near roses or yellow brooms. For a spectacular sculptural effect, plant them with topiary boxwood balls. You can plant it alone or with A. macleanii, which has the same height and blooms at the same time.

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