drumstick onion
Allium sphaerocephalon
RHS Plants for Pollinators
USDA zones4 to 8
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size2 to 3 feet tall12 to 24 inches wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Purple, red
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Drumstick onion (Allium sphaerocephalon) is a bulb for borders, cut flowers, and pollinator gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes full or part sun and dry to moist soil of most types. Deer and rabbits tend to browse other plants first. Two inch wide flower heads open green, turn deep maroon, and then fade to deep pink. They bloom from late June into July and attract butterflies and bees.
Pairs well with Queen of Night tulip, Standing Ovation little bluestem, and Coral Charm peony.
Native range
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and 10 more places. See all 14
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Baleares, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Krym, NW. Balkan Pen., Sardegna, Sicilia, and Türkiye.