Drumstick allium (Allium sphaerocephalon) is a playful, pollinator‑magnet bulb that stitches summer borders together with slender stems topped by tight, egg‑shaped heads. Buds emerge green, then ripen from the tip downward to rich wine‑purple, creating a two‑tone phase that adds movement and surprise. Plant bulbs in fall, 3–5 inches deep and 3 inches apart, in full sun and sharply drained soil; gritty, lean conditions produce the strongest stems. Height 18–30 inches, with grassy foliage that often withers before bloom—normal for alliums. Water lightly after planting, then sparingly; wet feet invite rot. Deer and rabbits ignore it, but bees and hoverflies flock to the nectar. Thread in groups of 7–15 through roses, salvias, yarrow, catmint, and fine grasses like Stipa/Nassella for a naturalistic rhythm. Leave spent heads for sculptural seedpods or deadhead to limit self‑sowing. Divide clumps or lift and replant offsets every few years if flowering wanes. Hardy in USDA zones 4–8; in warm zones, pre‑chill bulbs 10–12 weeks and treat as annuals.
Drumstick allium
