Allium 'Lucy Ball'

A deciduous, bulbous perennial producing short-lived, strap-shaped mid-green leaves and large, densely-packed spherical heads of purple-pink, star-shaped flowers on straight stems to 1m (39in) tall in May and June. The foliage is often wilting and turning brown when the flowers appear, and for best visual effect, the bulbs should be sited so that adjacent plants can grow to conceal the leaves as they die back. The flowers are extremely attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, making the plant a wonderful addition to a wildlife garden.