Allium aflatunense Purple Sensation

Allium 'Purple Sensation' is not a horticultural variety, but a very pretty form of A. aflatunense discovered precisely in the west of Turkestan, in the Aflatun region. Its medium-sized spherical inflorescences look majestic at the top of their sturdy stems. They are vividly coloured in purple-violet, standing out in flower beds and borders. They also make stunning additions to fresh or dried bouquets. This variety blooms early, in May, often before others. It proves to be quite tolerant in terms of exposure, accepting partial shade quite well. Plant it in well-draining and light soil; in these conditions, its cold resistance is excellent. To avoid too much humidity in summer, it is advisable to keep the bulbs dry during summer, especially in regions with rainy summers.

Allium aflatunense, like all ornamental alliums, garlic, leek, and onion, belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. It is native to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Central Asia. The Aflatun region in Kyrgyzstan is dominated by a temperate continental climate, which is humid and cold in winter, hot and relatively dry in summer. It prefers light and well-draining soil. It likes limestone but adapts well to more acidic soils. Its bulb is very resistant to cold, but fears excess moisture in both winter and summer.

The bulb of 'Purple Sensation', with a diameter of 5 m (2in), develops a rosette of long oblong leaves, green-grey-blue in colour, and slightly glaucous. They measure up to 30cm (12in) in height. This decorative foliage gives off a typical alliaceous odour when crushed. It dries out while the flowering blooms. The 70cm (28in) tall flower stems emerge from May, sometimes at the end of April depending on the regions. Straight and sturdy, they can do without staking if planted in positions sheltered from the wind. They bear a globular inflorescence at their tip, measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter. Each inflorescence is composed of numerous small star-shaped flowers with 6 purple-violet petals. These flower heads attract many pollinating insects and remain decorative for a long time in flower beds. The flowering gives way to black seeds that can self-seed in light soil.

Allium 'Purple Sensation' is one of the most appreciated varieties by gardeners, due to its early and vibrant flowering. Placed in groups of 5 bulbs in the heart of a mix of plants, it will bring verticality to borders, flower beds, and flower pots. It pairs well with the wild Aflatun garlic, which has a lighter colour, forming a beautiful gradation. Magnificent in flower beds with tulips in shades of pink. In our photo, it stands out from a carpet of hostas that will hide its bare stem during flowering. Perennial geraniums, thyme, lady's mantle, or small catmints (Nepeta mussinii) will play the same role in well-drained soils that this allium loves.