That’s quite a tongue-twisting name for a plant that is basically an overgrown chive. Of course it only means sphere-headed, and this is the first year I have had these late flowering (AKA drumstick) alliums in my garden. July to August is their time. And they have come into bloom just when the June flowers are over, and the July cohort are still struggling with the heat. I love them. They start off as green globes that gradually turn purple-pink from the tip downwards – just as if they have been dipped in a paint pot. Full-out, they remind me of the raspberry ice lollies of my childhood. They are not fussy about soil type, or so I’ve read, though they like reasonable drainage. And they self-seed, which I’m very excited about. Looking forward then to next year’s garden full of giant chives.
Tish Farrell 
Nice shape and a self seeder too. How wonderful. Good clear photos really make a difference don’t they?
Thanks, Beverly.
i’ve always loved these!
You just have to, don’t you 🙂
These look very dramatic and worthy addition to any garden. I try and encourage the wild alium to grow here but it always ends up where it wants to seed!
They know where they want to be 🙂
chives are wonderful, and with flowers like that, an inspiration… the photography on the same level. wonder how they taste…
Well I’ve not tried eating them, Shimon, but I gather they smell oniony if you use them for cut flowers in the house 🙂
Gorgeous, Tish! Aren’t they just magnificent! Earlier this year our gardener advised us to get Allium Sphaerocephalon for several spots in the garden and they are amongst our favourites now. They really stand out, gracefully. 🙂
Indeed they do stand out, Dina, – very classily – an understated statement 🙂
They are stunning!
That is one awesome plant, Tish, and deserves that drum roll!
Thanks, Pete 🙂
My apologies for not writing any comments. Our internet is down and I depend on others to maintain the bare minimum in blogging. Sorry!
Absolutely no need to apologise, Peter.
Rat-tat-a-tat-tat-tat! 🙂 🙂 Magnificent!
Well done that woman with the drum!
Glorious colour! It’s on my list of plants to order 😉
Excellent choice for your lovely garden.
Great choice, Tish!
Stunning.
Stunning. I have given a bow
Thank you, Mak 🙂
I would be happy to have some of these in my garden. 🙂
Fabulous. I’d love some for my garden too. They are just the thing to add some luscious colour 😀
The colour is wonderful. They look splendiferous in a long border.
Serious garden envy happening here. It’s so misty here today, I can’t even see mine (not that it’s anything to write home about at the moment) 😀
Beautiful rich colour and the seed heads are like a firework explosion I can imagine them shooting all round the garden and so tall too
Yes – a growing firework display 🙂
Mrs Britain will want to know about these!
She will not be disappointed 🙂
I was going to ask about cooking with them too … we’ll just have to wait until you try ’em and report back. 😀
🙂
Everyone seems very impressed with them. I have to ask whether they are better than simply growing plain chives? I planted larger alliums a couple of years ago, but out of 20 bulbs I think only 4 have actually grown. Not tried these little beauties, but I do have some weird flowering chives (and some garlic chives, but I think they have been obliterated by the borage – not seen them flower yet anyhow). Must admit this variety are a lovely colour and I might be tempted…
They grow quite tall, even when confined to pots. The ones in beds are heading towards a metre, so they give an accent to whatever they are planted with. Take a look at Sarah Raven’s catalogue on line. Also the bees just love them.
I have about a million things ‘ticked’ on SR’s catalogue. She seduces me all the time! So many beautiful flowers and so little space.
I know. I almost said don’t look too hard. Her catalogue is so beautiful – design and content. And she has such a knack of putting things together so you always want more than you started off wanting.