Drumsticks (Allium sphaerocephalon)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic Dry Mesic Dry
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 8b
Plant Height:	20 to 36 inches
Leaves:	Fragrant
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	Purple Red
Bloom Size:	1"-2"
Flower Time:	Late spring or early summer Summer
Underground structures:	Bulb
Uses:	Cut Flower Dried Flower
Dynamic Accumulator:	K (Potassium) Ca (Calcium) Na (Sodium)
Wildlife Attractant:	Butterflies
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds:	Self fertile
Propagation: Other methods:	Offsets Bulbs
Pollinators:	Self Bees Various insects
Awards and Recognitions:	RHS AGM

Common names

Drumsticks
Ornamental Onion
Round Headed Leek
Purple Headed Garlic
Round-Headed Leek

Photo Gallery

Location: Missouri zone 6a
Date: 2022-06-18

Uploaded by DawnaE

Location: The Park - full sun garden
Date: 2015-07-05
The allium accompanies lily, Royal Sunset.

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Warren, Vermont
Date: 2023-05-30

Uploaded by PoppyLady420

Uploaded by RootedInDirt

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 2018-07-05

Uploaded by cliftoncat

Location: My garden in N E Pa.
Date: 2014-07-01

Uploaded by treehugger

Uploaded by Shelly

Uploaded by lovemyhouse

Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: early June
Opening flowerheads

Uploaded by keyi

Location: The Park, full sun.
Date: 2016-07-01

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by jkporter

Location: Washington 8b
Date: 2017-07-14

Uploaded by Patty

Location: Rose garden
Date: 2014-07-01
Taller than the baby's breath.

Uploaded by pirl

Location: The Park - full sun garden
Date: 2015-07-02

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-10-29
Allium sphaerocephalon, 2017, [Drumstick Allium], AL-ee-um, 24 in

Uploaded by frankrichards16

Location: In my garden in Lenore, ID
Date: 2013-06-30

Uploaded by Natalie

Date: 2016-06-18
Brownstown Pennsylvania #Pollination

Uploaded by nativeplantlover

Uploaded by molanic

Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2015-06-27
before the color

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: Harper post, full sun
Date: 2014-07-03

Uploaded by pirl

Location: RHS Harlow Carr gardens, Yorkshire, England UK
Date: 2020-06-27
Allium sphaerocephalon

Uploaded by Galanthophile

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Rose garden
Date: 2013-0705
Taller than either the yarrow or the baby's breath

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-07-07
Full bloom and full of bees.

Uploaded by ge1836

Uploaded by 4susiesjoy

Location: Harper post, full sun
Date: 2014-06-22

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Harper post, full sun
Date: 2014-0723

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by Joy

Location: The Park - full sun garden
Date: 2015-09-01

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Hamilton Square Perennial Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2014-05-23

Uploaded by HamiltonSquare

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-06
flowers just about to open up..

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Drumstick Allium with daylily scapes

Uploaded by keyi

Location: My garden in Kalama, Wa. Zone 8
Date: 2014-09-23

Uploaded by Joy

Location: Harper post, full sun
Date: 2013-0713

Uploaded by pirl

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-06-10

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by Joy

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-06-19

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: The Park
Date: 2014-10-21
Gift from a friend.

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2013-07-09

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by frankrichards16

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-07-02

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by ge1836

Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-06-05
Whimsicle at this stage.

Uploaded by ge1836

Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2015-02-06

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: Washington 8b
Date: 2017-07-08

Uploaded by Patty

Uploaded by Patty

Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: late May
Unopened flower heads

Uploaded by keyi

Uploaded by 4susiesjoy

Location: Chicago, IL
Date: 2012-06-14
Drumstick allium buds with Allium 'Globemaster' spent flower head

Uploaded by Ispahan

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-06-28

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-07-01

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: 2012-05-22

Uploaded by keyi

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: central Illinois
Date: 6-17-07
forefront

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-03

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Hamilton Square Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2016-06-04
Zone 9b.

Uploaded by HamiltonSquare

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Ispahan (Chicago - Zone 6a) on Jul 4, 2012 4:38 PM concerning plant:

One of the best of the garden alliums with a late blooming season, unobtrusive chive-like foliage, and bulbs that are tolerant of summer moisture. This species looks best when planted en masse throughout the garden. Hundreds of bulbs can be tucked into small spaces and will play nicely even in even the smallest garden beds. The beautiful blooms attract all sorts of wonderful pollinators to the garden.

Reply to this comment
Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Dec 9, 2011 3:15 PM concerning plant:

Introduced in 1594.
The oval flower heads are a couple of inches wide and consist of about 100 densely packed florets that are bell shaped. Tall stems.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
gardengus	On June 23, 2015	Bloomed just showing color
gardengus	On June 25, 2014	Bloomed full bloom
flaflwrgrl	On January 31, 2015	Plant emerged They are up! About 3" high foliage at this point.
flaflwrgrl	On November 24, 2014	Miscellaneous Event Planted the 25 bulbs form American Meadows scattered in various places.
flaflwrgrl	On November 19, 2014	Obtained plant 25 bulbs from American Meadows.
flaflwrgrl	On November 5, 2014	Miscellaneous Event Planted bulbs (20) from Bert Leek - A Touch of Nature.
antsinmypants	On May 15, 2021	Obtained plant 2021 Chicagoland Annual Plant Swap
paleohunter	On January 1, 2024	Seeds sown
paleohunter	On October 18, 2023	Obtained plant

» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Allium Drumsticks (Allium sphaerocephalon)

Allium
Drumsticks (Allium sphaerocephalon)