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Allium Sphaerocephalon

Drumstick allium. The last of the bulbous alliums to bloom. Its egg-shaped, wine-red flowerheads wait until summer to color up. Puts on a nice show when planted in tight groups in a perennial border.
Deer Resistant

Note: Alliums are resistant to deer, but rodents such as voles and gophers may eat the bulbs.

Bloom times are relative within the spring bulb season, which varies from place to place and year to year. They are intended to help you plan a sequence of bloom from Very Early season to Very Late season. About two weeks separate Early from Mid and Mid from Late. The start and duration of bloom is heavily dependent on the weather. Warm temperatures speed up growth and flowering; cold temperatures slow them down.

early
mid
late

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Specifications
USDA Zones
Design Criteria
Planting Guide
When to Plant

Item #	6016
Botanical Name	Allium sphaerocephalon
Synonym	Drumstick Allium
Bulb Size	6cm+
Catalog Page (2020)	138

Flower Color	Wine Red
Bloom Time	Very Late
Height	22-26 inches
Sunlight	Full (6+ hours sun per day)
Soil	Well-drained
Resistant to Deer	✓
Good for Cutting	✓

Depth of Planting Hole	3 inches
Spacing	3 inches apart
Density	10-11 per sq. ft.

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Planting Instructions

Plant in full sun or light shade and well-drained soil. Sandy soil is ideal. Allium leaves begin to yellow by the time the flowers open. You can disguise the foliage by planting large alliums behind or among bushy perennials or shrubs, and small alliums among low-growing perennials. The flower heads of Globemaster and Christophii remain attractive for a time even after the color drains away. They can be left in the garden or cut and dried for use in indoor arrangements.

Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall. They need cool soil to make roots before the onset of winter. Cool fall weather arrives at different times from north to south and from high elevations to low.

Please note that the temperature of the soil lags behind the air temperature. You can generally plant later than the windows provided in this map. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can still plant.

The amaryllis are the last bulbs to arrive in the Colorblends warehouse. They are typically available for delivery toward the end of October. They can be planted upon receipt. They can also be stored in a cool, dry location for several weeks. Please note: Amaryllis bulbs may start growing before they are potted. If you decide to delay planting, open the bag(s) and set the bulbs on their roots so that the flower stems can grow straight up. And don't forget to mark your calendar or set a reminder to pot the bulbs.

Paperwhites can be potted upon receipt. They can also be stored in a cool, dry location for many weeks. Many people pot their bulbs in batches, one after the next, to keep the fragrance coming. It's not unusual for paperwhites to begin to sprout while in storage. The shoots emerge an inch or two and then stop, as though the bulbs realize they are getting ahead of themselves. The shoots often curl around the bulbs, pointing opposite gravity. After the bulbs are potted, the shoots straighten up.

Cold Limit	4a
Southern Limit	7b
Western Limit	10b

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