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.
- early
- mid
- late
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.
Cold Limit | 4a |
Southern Limit | 7b |
Western Limit | 10b |
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