Allium aflatunense aka Purple Sensation

Allium aflatunense is a bulb plant from Central Asia. People call it Persian onion and ornamental onion. It belongs to the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. It grows upright and comes back each year from an underground bulb. Sources place its home range in several Central Asian countries. These include Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Flower stems reach about 2.5–5 feet [0.76–1.52 metres]. Chicago Botanic Garden gives a height around 3 feet [0.91 metres]. The green stems are hollow and have slight ribs. They have no leaves. Green leaves grow in a rosette, a ring at the base. They are strap-shaped and leathery, with smooth edges. Each can reach 1.25 feet [0.38 metres] long. Round flower heads span about 0.33–0.42 feet [0.10–0.13 metres]. Small, star-shaped flowers form each head, called an umbel. Each flower has six parts, in purple to lavender tones. The fruit is a capsule.

It blooms in late spring or early summer, often during May. North Carolina State says flowers last two to three weeks. Chicago lists a longer bloom season that reaches into summer. Bees and butterflies visit the blooms. The flower heads suit use as cut flowers, too. Groups can add spring color to borders and cottage gardens. Other listed uses include rock gardens, pots, and mass plantings. Deer and rabbits tend to leave the plants alone.

Grow this onion in full sun and soil that drains well. It also grows with some shade and in several soil types. These include sand, loam, clay, and rocky ground. Give it some moisture while it flowers. It can withstand dry spells during summer. Plant bulbs in fall, with space from plants that compete. North Carolina State gives planting depths of 0.33–0.5 feet [0.10–0.15 metres]. Use the same range for gaps between bulbs. Sources give USDA hardiness ranges of 3–8 and 4–8. It grows at a moderate rate and needs little routine care. You can grow more plants by division, or splitting them.

Diseases that may affect it include Fusarium basal rot. Rust and purple blotch are also possible. Onion yellow dwarf virus can affect it, too. Pests may include bulb mites, aphids, and allium leafminer. Plants For A Future lists bulbs, leaves, and flowers as edible. Yet North Carolina State warns that the plant is mildly poisonous. Eating large amounts may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It also lists risks for cats and dogs. These warnings still matter despite the reported food uses.