Plant profile
Botanical name: Allium aflatunense ‚Purple Sensation‘
German name: Purple globe leek
Family: Alliaceae (allium family)
Flowering time: May to June
Blossoms: Purple violet
Foliage: Deciduous / retracts after flowering
Growth habit: Geophyte / bulbous plant
Origin: Central Asia
Details of Allium aflatunense ‚Purple Sensation‘
Allium aflatunense ‚Purple Sensation‘ is a real eye-catcher in any garden. The plant blooms to its full splendour between May and June. The flowers, arranged in umbels, are purple-violet in colour and seem to float above the slender stem. Thanks to its intense colouring and wonderfully fragrant nectar, it attracts many bees and butterflies. The ornamental leek grows to a height of around 60 to 80 cm and a width of up to 30 cm. After flowering, the colour of the flowers changes to a warm golden yellow.
The purple globe leek requires well-drained, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil. It also particularly likes sunny locations, as the more sun it receives, the more intense the flowering. Nevertheless, no winter protection is required, as the spherical plant can withstand temperatures down to ‑20°C. Allium aflatunense ‚Purple Sensation‘ should be watered regularly. However, watering less frequently but thoroughly and penetratingly stimulates the plant roots. This allows them to penetrate deeper layers of soil and survive dry periods better.
Use of the purple ball leek in the design
As an early summer plant, the purple globe leek fits perfectly into herbaceous borders. The other perennial plants conceal the practically inconspicuous foliage and the imposing flower balls attract everyone’s attention. Planted in large numbers, the ornamental leek looks particularly impressive. Gaps between the individual balls can be filled with catmint, steppe sage or lavender. The intense purple colouring provides a beautiful contrast to lawns or natural stone walls. It doesn’t matter what style of garden you have, because our plant of the month can be playfully integrated into any garden.
