'Globemaster'
(Allium hybrid)
Allium 'Globemaster' is an ornamental onion of enormous proportions. Ready for picking in November, the flower stands about 70cm high, whilst the head itself, when fully expanded, can measure up to 20cm across. As each individual floret fades it is replaced by yet another which pushes out beyond the spent one, resulting in a continous expansion of the head. The head continues to look fresh, as a result of this self-grooming, throughout the flowering season.
The flowerhead lasts for weeks in situ in the garden, but it also will last as a cut-flower for up to a fortnight in a vase. The handsome foliage emerges midwinter and dies down again after flowering, in December.
Hot dry summers and long cold winters are essential: a wet soil in summer (if the bulb is left in-situ) is a sure recipe for rot, while a mild winter diminishes flower production. We lift our bulbs annually, as part of our crop rotation, but they are just as happy being left to multiply in one spot.
Bulb provenance: Bannockburn Floriculture
