Allium 'Gladiator' (Ornamental Onion) – Tall Purple Globe Flower (Bag of 5 Bulbs)

Allium 'Gladiator' is one of the most striking ornamental onions you can grow, with large, perfectly rounded globe flowers in rich violet-purple. You receive 5 dry bulbs in a bag, ready to plant. They are not growing plants.

The photos show the flowers in bloom.

Each bulb sends up a tall, sturdy stem topped with a dense spherical flowerhead. This gives a dramatic display in borders, cottage gardens and cut flower arrangements. Gladiator flowers in late spring and early summer, bridging the gap between spring and summer flowering plants. The dried seedheads keep their ornamental value well into autumn.

Choose a sunny, open spot with free-draining soil, as the bulbs rot if the ground stays wet through winter. Allium 'Gladiator' is fully hardy in the UK and is left in the ground all year. It also grows well in containers in a gritty, well-drained compost. The flowerheads are excellent as cut flowers, fresh or dried, and bees and other pollinators love them. Let the foliage die back naturally after flowering to feed the bulb.

Plant the bulbs in autumn, pointed end up, about 10-15cm deep and 15-20cm apart.

Bulbs are harmful if eaten. Keep away from children and pets.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Ornamental Onion, Allium 'Gladiator'
• Botanical Name: Allium spp.
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 80-100cm tall and 10-15cm wide (per bulb)
• Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming bulbous perennial with tall, slender stems
• Perfect For: Borders, cottage gardens, gravel gardens, containers, cut flower gardens
• Foliage: Strap-like, mid-green leaves that die back as flowering begins
• Planting Time: Autumn (September to November)
• Flowering Time: Late spring to early summer
• Flower Colour: Violet-purple globe flowerheads up to 10cm across
• Planting Depth: Approximately 10-15cm
• Planting Position: Full sun
• Soil Type: Well-drained, fertile soil
• Hardiness: Fully hardy