Allium Mount Everest

A really beautiful, architectural plant, ideal for gravel gardens, Allium stipitatum Mount Everest is a tall, bulbous perennial that comes up year after year. The leaves are strap-shaped and mid-green. Tight, ball-shaped umbels of pure white, star-shaped flowers are borne on upright, ribbed stems in June; bees and other pollinators love the flowers, which can be left on the plant for many months. Plant 10-15cm deep and apart, adding grit in heavy clay to improve drainage. Good in city or courtyard gardens but also in cottage and gravel gardens. Easy to grow, and no pruning needed, but as the leaves die back before the flowers appear, plant it behind one of your perennials. This plant dislikes winter wet, so plant in very free-draining soil. Congested clumps may be divided. Ornamental onions should NOT be eaten. Allium Mount Everest holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any fertile, well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Early summer
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height:  3’3” (1m) Spread: 20” (50cm) in 2-5 years

Photo by KENPEI licence Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0