Allium 'Pincushion' - Pincushion Ornamental Onion

Lavender-purple flower spheres sit atop of sturdy stems from midsummer through the season; an excellent choice for attracting pollinators; compact and tidy habit, great for border fronts, landscapes or containers; self-seeds

Height: 16 inches. Spread: 14 inches. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 4a.

Ornamental features

Pincushion Ornamental Onion features bold balls of lightly-scented lavender flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the season.

Landscape

Pincushion Ornamental Onion is an open herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Recommended for: Border Edging, General Garden Use, Herb Gardens, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Pincushion Ornamental Onion will grow to be about 14 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 14 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.