Allium roseum
rosy garlic
Overview
Allium roseum is a bulbous perennial 20-65 cm (8-26 in) tall that grows from a small underground bulb and flowers in late spring. The few narrow basal leaves are flat to channelled, 5-15 mm (0.2-0.6 in) wide, and smell faintly of garlic when crushed, dying back as the flowers open. Each stem carries a loose, rounded umbel 4-7 cm (1.6-2.8 in) across of pink to pale rose, bell-shaped flowers, sometimes mixed with small purplish bulbils that drop and root to form new plants. The flowers have six tepals about 7-12 mm (0.3-0.5 in) long and are lightly scented. After flowering the whole plant dies down to the bulb and stays dormant through the dry summer. The bulbils and offset bulbs let colonies build quickly, and in mild climates the plant can spread beyond where it was placed and naturalize in grass and waste ground. It returns each year without lifting.
Native Range
Allium roseum is native to the Mediterranean region, from southern Europe and North Africa to western Asia, growing in dry grassland, scrub, and cultivated ground. It has naturalized in parts of Britain, North America, and Australia.Suggested Uses
Grown in sunny borders, gravel gardens, and naturalized in short grass for late-spring colour. The flowers suit cutting and pollinator plantings. Its free spread by bulbils makes it weedy in mild, moist climates.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'2"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Bloom Information
Flowers open from April to June (mid to late spring), each umbel lasting two to three weeks. Bees and other insects visit the lightly scented pink flowers. As the umbel fades, any bulbils swell and the foliage yellows.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to pale roseFoliage Description
mid-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Allium roseum grows in full sun on free-draining soil and tolerates poor, dry, and stony ground. Bulbs are planted 8-10 cm (3-4 in) deep in autumn and need no lifting in climates with dry summers. Soil pH from about 6.0 to 7.5 suits it. It withstands summer drought during its dormant period and rots in soils that stay wet. No feeding is needed on average soil. Bulbils and offsets can be removed during dormancy to limit spread or grown on to increase stock.Pruning
Spent flower stems are removed before bulbils scatter where self-seeding is not wanted. Faded foliage is left to die down so the bulb can recharge. No other pruning is required.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons