Allium lusitanicum
Portuguese allium
A bulbous perennial to around 30cm tall, forming a clump of slender, strap-shaped, onion-scented mid-green leaves. Rounded heads of pale purple flowers appear in mid to late summer
Synonyms
Allium tanguticum 'Summer Beauty'Allium 'Summer Beauty'
see moreAllium angulosum 'Summer Beauty'
Allium serotinum
Allium montanum Schmidt
Allium fallax subsp. montanum
Allium fallax
Allium senescens subsp. montanum
Allium montanum F.W. Schmidt non Schrank.
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Europe
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in full sun and fertile well-drained soil. It is best to grow in containers where garden soil is heavy clay and prone to saturation over winter. Self-seeds freely. See allium cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed when just ripe or in spring; or propagate by offsets which can be carefully detached by lifting the bulb after flowering has finished. See bulb propagation. Deadhead regularly if you do not wish for it to self-seed
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Gravel garden
- Wildflower meadow
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required, other than to remove old flowered stems and foliage
Pests
May be susceptible to allium leaf miner and onion fly
Diseases
May be susceptible to onion white rot, and onion downy mildew
Get involved
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