Ornamental Onion 'Silver Spring'

Allium 'Silver Spring' is a sophisticated and highly sought-after ornamental onion that adds a touch of elegance to early summer borders. Unlike the common purple varieties, this cultivar produces large, spherical umbels composed of snowy white, star-shaped flowers, each with a striking dark mulberry or plum-coloured centre. The flowers also possess a pleasant, sweet fragrance, which is unusual for the genus. It typically grows to about 60-80cm tall on sturdy, upright stems. It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil, and is fully hardy across most of the UK (H5). Like many alliums, the foliage begins to wither as the flowers emerge, so it is best planted among mid-height perennials like hardy geraniums or grasses that can hide the dying leaves. It is an exceptional cut flower and is highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained loam or sand.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.