Allium karataviense
$24.50
Out of stock
Allium karataviense is a compact ornamental onion grown as much for its broad, glaucous foliage as for its sculptural, early-season blooms. In mid to late spring, it produces dense, spherical flower heads made up of pale pink to silvery lilac florets, held just above the foliage on short, sturdy stems. The leaves are a striking feature in their own right — wide, arching, and tinged with a silvery-blue hue that adds strong visual interest even before flowering begins.
This species remains low-growing, typically reaching only 20 to 30 centimetres in height with a similar spread, making it ideal for edging, rock gardens, or tucked into sunny nooks where its foliage can shine. Native to Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan, it is well adapted to dry, free-draining soils and copes well with drought once established. Allium karataviense is fully frost hardy and deciduous, dying back cleanly after flowering as the summer heat intensifies.
Its compact habit and architectural form have earned it popularity among collectors and designers alike, and it’s a favourite for pairing with gravel gardens, alpine beds, or low-maintenance dry borders. Though related to edible onions, it is grown purely for its ornamental value, and its soft, shimmering flower heads are also long-lasting in cut arrangements