Products › Autumn planted bulbs to flower in the Spring › Allium › Allium hollandicum (aflatunense)

Synonymed with A. aflatuenense the process of growing, selecting, hybridising and multiplying bulbs in horticulture may well have led to considerable deviation from the original description in 1904 of this plant. What is now called A. hollandicum is still a great plant and produced in such numbers can be widely planted without too great a cost. Hardy throughout the UK, in higher rainfall areas they would be better planted in well drained situations, certainly sited to get the sun in the late spring and early summer. The flowers are generally 24-30" (60-75cm) tall in mid May and into June, the size of an orange in pale purple or deep lilac. They can be planted in swarms where the slight variation in size, colour, maturity and height adds to their charm. Grow them where the foliage of other plants camouflages the leaves as they wither (at about flowering time). The pale greens of plants such as Alchemilla, the purples of the hardy herbaceous geraniums or the blues in the late Camassia all compliment their purple colours very well.  Pale purple flowers in May, 24-36" (60-75cm) tall.

Planting instructions

Cover the bulb with 3-4" (7.5-10 cm) of soil in a sunny situation, and in better drained soils. Allow 6" (15 cm) between bulbs and plant in groups without regimentation.