Romantic Pastels

Allium ampeloprasum is a wonderfully statuesque allium, prized for its papery buds opening into rounded, lilac-toned globes held aloft on tall, steady stems. Rising cleanly above broad, grey-green foliage, it brings an assured sense of height and structure from late spring into early summer—particularly handsome woven through mixed borders and naturalistic planting.

It also makes a refined cut flower: allow a few stems to open fully for a soft, architectural note indoors, while leaving plenty in the garden for visiting pollinators.

• Elegant, architectural flowerheads in pale pink-lilac and white
• Excellent height for adding lift through borders and meadow-style schemes
• Pollinator friendly and deer resistant
• Fully hardy and pleasingly low-fuss in well-drained ground

Supplied as autumn-planting bulbs.

Allium schubertii ‘Arctic Snow’ is an allium of real theatre: airy, starry white florets arranged in an architectural, firework-like sphere. Rising on sturdy stems above bright green foliage, it brings a crisp, contemporary note to borders, gravel gardens and smart container displays — and it is equally poised in a vase, fresh or dried.

Plant in autumn and allow it to settle quietly through winter; come late spring it provides a sculptural highlight that looks particularly refined threaded through ornamental grasses and soft, billowing perennials.

• Colour & form: White, star-shaped umbels with a distinctive ‘firework’ silhouette
• Garden uses: Borders & beds, containers, gravel gardens; excellent cut and dried stems
• Wildlife value: Pollinator friendly
• Practical virtues: Fully hardy and deer resistant

Allium atropurpureum brings a beautifully saturated note to late-spring borders: deep purple-red, half-spherical flowerheads poised on slender stems above neat green foliage. It slips effortlessly through tulips and early perennials, adding height and quiet drama without ever feeling heavy.

A refined choice for modern planting schemes, it also makes a smart cut flower and is notably attractive to pollinators. Plant in autumn for an elegant show in May and June.

• Colour: Deep purple-red globes
• Flowering: May–June
• Height: 60cm
• Best for: Borders, containers and cutting

Allium caeruleum (syn. Allium azureum) is a most refined choice for late spring into early summer, sending up slim, upright stems topped with perfectly rounded, sapphire-blue flower heads. Each globe is composed of neat, starry florets—wonderfully crisp in modern gravel schemes, yet equally at home threaded through a softly planted border.

Particularly useful where winter soils can sit wet: plant in pots or raised pockets of free-draining compost and let the colour float above emerging perennials. A quietly architectural allium, and a fine companion for roses and shrubs where its cool blue reads as an elegant foil.

• Colour with poise: vivid blue globes for a clean, contemporary lift
• Border and container friendly: excellent in pots where heavy ground can be troublesome
• Wildlife-wise planting: pollinator friendly, with deer resistance

Allium cowanii (Neapolitan garlic, Cowanii Group) is a quietly captivating allium, sending up loose, airy umbels of pure white, starry flowers on slender stems. Flowering in late spring and early summer, it brings a clean, lifted note to borders, gravel planting and pots—especially effective when threaded through grasses or soft, cottage-style perennials.

Compact and clump-forming, it settles in with ease and returns reliably year after year. Plant in autumn for an elegant drift of white that also proves popular with pollinators.

• Flower colour: White
• Flowering period: May–June
• Best for: Borders, containers, cottage gardens, city gardens
• Character: Airy, star-shaped flowers with a refined, natural look

Allium unifolium 'Eros' is a beautifully refined, compact allium, prized for its domed heads of pinkish-lilac, starry florets held neatly above grey-green foliage. At a modest height, it slips effortlessly into the front of a sunny border, and is equally at home in smart pots where its tidy habit can be properly admired.

Flowering in late spring, it brings a poised lift and gentle colour that partners elegantly with tulips, forget-me-nots and early grasses, while offering welcome interest for pollinators.

• Colour: pinkish-lilac
• Height: 35cm
• Flowering: May–June
• Best in: pots & containers; sunny borders

Allium 'Large Flowering Mix' is a generous selection of large-flowered ornamental onions, chosen for their poised, globe-shaped heads and a softly varied palette. Rising above fresh grey-green foliage, the blooms bring elegant structure from late spring into early summer—particularly effective threaded through borders, gravel gardens, or grouped in generous drifts for a naturalistic finish.

These fully hardy bulbs are wonderfully uncomplicated: plant in autumn, allow them to settle over their first seasons, and enjoy their refined, architectural presence year after year. They are also excellent for cutting—bringing a calm, contemporary note to arrangements.

• Large, globe-shaped flowerheads in a mixed colour palette
• Flowering: May–July
• Height: 60–85cm, with a neat, upright habit
• Pollinator friendly and deer resistant
• Superb for borders, gravel gardens and pots—and for cutting

Allium stipitatum 'Mount Everest' is a statuesque allium of exemplary poise, lifting perfectly rounded globes of crisp white, star-shaped flowers above grey-green foliage. In late spring and early summer, its tall, upright stems bring a clean, architectural note to borders and gravel planting, and the flower heads are equally superb in a vase.

Plant in generous drifts for a composed, contemporary look, or thread through perennials and ornamental grasses for height and rhythm. Once established, this perennial bulb returns with reliable presence and a polished finish.

• Colour: White with a light green flush
• Flower shape: Globe
• Excellent for: Borders, gravel gardens and cut flowers

Allium neapolitanum is a smaller, exquisitely poised allium, prized for its crisp white, star-shaped blooms gathered into neat umbels. Held on slender stems above fresh mid-green foliage, it brings a clean, luminous note to gravel planting, sun-baked edges and beautifully finished pots.

Particularly useful where winter wet makes heavier ground unreliable, this is a quietly confident choice for raised beds and containers—easy to place, and all the more elegant when planted in generous drifts.

• Flower colour: White
• Form: Star-shaped umbels on neat stems
• Ideal for: Containers, gravel gardens, courtyards and borders
• Wildlife: Pollinator friendly

Allium nigrum is a quietly dramatic allium: creamy-white, cup-shaped flower heads with a distinctive dark central eye, held on sturdy stems above neat, grey-green foliage. Flowering in late spring into early summer, it brings a composed lift to borders and gravel planting, and lends itself beautifully to elegant, architectural arrangements indoors.

• Refined colour – creamy white with green centres and a deep, inky focal point
• Excellent structure – upright stems with crisp, modern presence
• Garden & vase – a handsome cut flower with lasting style
• Wildlife-friendly – pollinator friendly
• Dependable – fully hardy and straightforward to grow

Plant in autumn for a poised display in May and June, then allow the foliage to fade naturally to feed the bulb for next year’s performance.

Allium ‘Ping Pong’ brings poised, architectural clarity to the late-spring border. Each tall, straight stem carries a perfectly rounded head of densely packed white florets — crisp, composed, and wonderfully modern in feel. It is equally at home rising through fresh green perennials or standing in quiet contrast to soft grasses, and it cuts beautifully for clean-lined arrangements.

• Colour: White (Whites & Creams)
• Flower shape: Globe
• Height: 100cm
• Spread: 50cm
• Flowering: May to July
• Planting: September to December
• Position: Sheltered
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained clay (pH: any)
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Ideal for: Borders, pots & containers, cut flowers
• Wildlife & resilience: Pollinator friendly; deer resistant

Supplied as bulbs.

Allium amethystinum 'Red Mohican' PBR is a wonderfully characterful allium, bringing late-spring height and an artful, lightly tousled silhouette to the border. Deep wine-red buds open to a clean white, then finish with playful elongated florets that give each globe a distinctly modern, slightly bohemian air.

Planted in generous drifts, it rises above emerging perennials to provide elegant structure in May and June, and it is a particularly fine choice where you’d like a little movement and pollinator interest woven through a planting scheme.

• Colour progression: wine-red buds opening to white with elongated florets
• Season of interest: May–June
• Style notes: tall, architectural heads with a softly untamed finish

Allium ‘Roseum’ is a charming, lightly naturalistic allium, carrying loose heads of soft pink, cup-shaped flowers above narrow, grassy foliage. It’s a wonderfully simple way to weave gentle colour through late spring and into early summer—particularly handsome when planted in drifts through borders or tucked into containers for a relaxed, cottage-garden finish.

• Flower colour: soft pink and white
• Height: 60cm
• Habit: clump-forming perennial
• Best in: borders, containers, and as a delicate cut flower

With its refined, airy presence, this is a lovely companion to late tulips and fresh spring greens, and it’s also welcome in wildlife-friendly planting schemes.

Allium schubertii is the sort of bulb that stops the eye mid‑stride. Each stem carries an open, starburst head of pinky‑purple, star-shaped florets, held on stalks of subtly varying length for an effortlessly sculptural effect. It is superb in sun-baked borders and equally compelling in a handsome container, where its architectural form can be admired up close.

Flowering in late spring into early summer, it brings a crisp, contemporary note to planting schemes and makes an exceptional cut flower. Left in place, the fading heads remain pleasingly structural, lending quiet drama long after the colour has softened.

• Colour: Purple (Pinks & Purples)
• Flowering: May–June
• Height: 60cm
• Spread: 30cm
• Position: Sheltered, sunny position
• Ideal for: Borders, Containers, Cut Flowers

Allium siculum subsp. dioscoridis (often sold as Nectaroscordum) is a wonderfully architectural bulb, sending up tall, upright stems topped with softly nodding, bell-shaped blooms in green-tinged cream, delicately brushed with purple. It brings a note of quiet intrigue to late spring and early summer planting, and has an easy elegance that sits beautifully amongst grasses, geraniums and other naturalistic companions.

Fully hardy and happy to naturalise where conditions suit, it’s an excellent choice for borders and informal gardens, offering height, movement and a refined, slightly curious silhouette. Pollinators are particularly fond of it, and as with many alliums it is generally left alone by deer.

• Flowering: May–June
• Height: 120cm
• Spread: 30cm
• Bulb size supplied: 12/14
• Position: Sheltered
• Soil: Moist but well-drained
• Light: Full sun or partial sun

Allium 'Silver Spring' brings a composed, architectural note to the late-spring border. Each tall stem is topped with a crisp white globe, the individual florets finished with a subtle purple‑pink eye—fresh, modern, and quietly striking among grasses, perennials and shrubs.

Equally at home threading through a cottage scheme or punctuating gravel planting, it also makes a refined cut flower, holding its form beautifully in arrangements. Plant in autumn and allow it to settle; by its second season it will be hitting its stride.

• Flower colour: white with soft pink‑purple detailing
• Best for: borders, gravel gardens, naturalising and cutting
• Style notes: elegant globes for height and structure without heaviness

Allium sphaerocephalon is a wonderfully refined choice for extending the season with poise. Slender stems rise above neat, narrow foliage, each topped with a dense, rounded head in rich pink to red tones—an elegant punctuation mark through early to late summer.

Superb threaded through borders or planted en masse for a light, rhythmic effect, it also suits generous pots where its upright habit brings height without heaviness. A quietly hardworking perennial, it is also valued for being pollinator friendly.

• Bulb size: 8/10cm
• Height: 50–100cm
• Spread: 10–50cm
• Flowering: June–August
• Position: Full Sun, Partial Sun
• Soil & moisture: Clay; well-drained
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy

Allium 'Summer Drummer' is the sort of perennial that lends a garden instant composure. Towering stems carry tightly packed, spherical flowerheads in pale purple with lighter highlights, rising well above neighbouring planting for a clean, architectural finish in high summer.

Plant the generous bulbs in autumn and allow them to settle in; by their second season they begin to make a handsome, long-legged statement—ideal threaded through borders, cottage-style planting, or neatly designed city courtyards. The blooms are also excellent for cutting, bringing height and poise to arrangements.

• Bulb size: 18/20
• Habit: Clump-forming perennial with tall, upright stems
• Flowering: July–August
• Best for: Borders, cottage gardens, city & courtyard gardens, cut flowers

Allium ursinum (ramsons) is a charming native allium, prized for its broad, fresh green leaves and neat, starry white flowers in spring. It is particularly well suited to lightly shaded corners and woodland-style planting, where it will naturalise beautifully and, in time, form handsome colonies.

For an elegant, relaxed effect, tuck the bulbs beneath deciduous trees or along the edge of a shady path, where the display can return with quiet reliability each year.

• Colour & form: star-shaped white flowers over mid green foliage
• Best for: woodland gardens, naturalising and ground cover
• Garden value: pollinator friendly and pleasingly low-fuss

Allium stipitatum 'White Giant' brings a poised, architectural note to late spring borders—tall, confident stems topped with dense, starry white spheres that float above fresh green foliage. It is a quietly glamorous choice for contemporary planting schemes and classic cottage-style gardens alike, and it cuts beautifully for arrangements.

Plant in autumn in a sunny, well-drained position and allow the bulbs to naturalise into handsome clumps. As the flower heads rise in May and June, they provide an elegant vertical accent among perennials and grasses, while also offering welcome interest to pollinators.

• Colour & form: star-shaped white flowers in rounded heads
• Height: 110–150cm; a refined, statuesque presence
• Where it shines: borders, pots, and as a cut flower

Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) ‘Bicolor’ is a classic garden anemone with a wonderfully crisp, tailored look: clean white petals neatly ringed in raspberry-red, set around a dark central eye. Planted in autumn, it brings poised colour to early spring borders and makes a particularly smart cut flower for small vases and mixed arrangements.

Exceptionally at home in pots as well as the front of a sunny border, ‘Bicolor’ suits cottage-style planting and Mediterranean-inspired schemes alike. In a sheltered position with free-draining soil, it will settle quickly and reward you with a fresh, refined display just as the garden is waking up.

• Botanical name: Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) ‘Bicolor’
• Type: Fully hardy, perennial corm
• Flowering: March–April
• Planting time: September–December
• Position: Sheltered, sunny spot
• Ideal for: Borders, containers and cutting

Anemone blanda 'Mixed' is one of spring’s most charming little luxuries: a low, naturalising drift of starry, daisy-like flowers in jewel shades of blue, purple, pink and white, each finished with a neat golden centre. Thread it through borders, underplant deciduous shrubs, or tuck into pots by the door for early-season colour with a light, effortless air.

These fully hardy corms settle in quickly and, in the right spot, will return to form a fresh carpet year after year—particularly lovely in rock gardens, at the front of borders, and dotted through lawns for a quietly romantic look.

• Flowering: March–May
• Height: 10–15cm
• Spread: 10–15cm
• Position: Full sun or partial sun (sheltered)
• Soil: Moist but well-drained loam; any pH
• Type: Perennial corm (Fully Hardy)

Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) 'Hollandia' is a quietly dramatic classic—velvety scarlet blooms, a crisp pale halo, and that unmistakable dark, inky eye. Perfectly poised at the front of a sunny border, and equally handsome in pots where you can admire the detail up close.

Plant in autumn for a refined early-spring display, then enjoy generous stems for cutting—beautiful slipped into small vases, or gathered into a more abundant arrangement with tulips and ranunculus.

• Flower colour: Red with white centre and dark (purple-black) eye
• Form: Bowl-shaped flowers on neat, clump-forming growth
• Best for: Pots & containers, front of border, cottage and Mediterranean-style planting, cutting gardens

Anemone coronaria ‘Levante Rosa Double’ brings a composed touch of romance to early spring—compact plants carrying rose-pink, semi-double blooms with a warm golden centre. Exceptionally pretty in pots by the door or terrace, and equally at home threaded through spring borders, this free-flowering anemone lends itself beautifully to cutting for small, elegant posies.

• Colour: Rose-pink with a golden centre
• Flowering: March–April
• Height: 25–40cm
• Best for: Pots & containers, spring borders, cut flower garden

Autumn planting, spring reward. Plant the corms from September to December in moist, well-drained soil. Choose a sheltered position in full sun or partial sun for the tidiest growth and best display.