Taylors Bulbs Allium Ambassador (1)

Few bulbs make quite the entrance of Allium 'Ambassador'. Come late spring, each bulb sends up a sturdy stem topped with a single, perfectly spherical flowerhead — a dense globe of star-shaped, deep violet-purple florets that can reach 15–20cm across. It's one of the largest and longest-flowering alliums available, holding its colour for up to five weeks before fading gracefully into an equally attractive dried seedhead that's well worth leaving in place for structure and winter interest.

Plant in autumn, roughly three times the bulb's depth, in full sun and free-draining soil; alliums resent winter waterlogging, so improve heavy ground with grit or compost before planting. Once established, Ambassador is reliably hardy and will return and bulk up year after year with very little attention, tolerating dry spells with ease once its roots are down.

At around 100–120cm tall, it works beautifully rising through the middle of a border, where its foliage (which yellows before flowering) can be discreetly hidden by neighbouring perennials. Bees and other pollinators find the flowerheads irresistible, while deer and rabbits tend to leave it well alone. As with all alliums, the bulbs and foliage are toxic if eaten, so keep this in mind in gardens visited by dogs, cats, or grazing animals.

Each bulb is hand-selected before dispatch. Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.