• Photo of Allium sphaerocephalon (Allium sphaerocephalons)

Plant Profile: Allium sphaerocephalon

Names

Bald-Head Onion, Drumsticks, Ornamental Onion, Round-Headed Garlic, Round-Headed Leek

  • Photo of Allium sphaerocephalon (Allium sphaerocephalons)

Phonetic Spelling:AL-ee-um sfay-roh-SEF-ah-lon

Genus:Allium

Species:sphaerocephalon

Family:Amaryllidaceae

The drumstick is a robust herb that blooms from late spring to early summer, with its flowering period lasting between three to four weeks. This plant typically reaches heights of 30 to 40 inches and features a compact cluster of small flowers. While it can withstand summer drought conditions, it is important to keep the soil moist during its growing season. Generally, the plant is not prone to being affected by mammals and emits a scent reminiscent of onion or garlic. It is originally from Eurasia and propagates through offsets, seeds, and bulblets.

For planting, place the bulbs 4 to 5 inches deep and space them 2 to 3 inches apart in well-drained soil, ideally in full sun or partial shade. This herb is suitable for use in borders, rock gardens, or can be interspersed among perennial plants.

For additional details on Allium, please refer to the provided resources.

Allium sphaerocephalon Feature Summary

Allium sphaerocephalon Image Gallery

Tags

#purple
#red
#bulb
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial bulb
#purple flowers
#red flowers
#cut flowers
#spring flowers
#dried flowers
#summer flowers
#Tunicated bulb
#deer resistant
#borders
#bedding plants
#spring interest
#edible
#cool season vegetable
#spring flowering bulbs

Similar Plants

Allium sphaerocephalon Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe, northern Africa, western Asia
Deer and rabbit resistive
normally not susceptible to animals, drought
Flowers, stems bulbs are edible. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
Flowers
Flowers emerge green and mature to reddish-purple in a 1 inch wide umbel that opens top to bottom and resembles clover flowers. The flowering period is from very late spring to early summer for 3-4 weeks. Flowers are small, 6-parted, and in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. The plant smells of garlic or onion. Bulblets sometimes form after flowering.
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Spring
Summer
6 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
Round, hollow, grassy, gray-green leaves up to 14" long form a foliage clump in spring. The plant smells of garlic or onion.
> 6 inches
< 1 inch
Poisonous to Humans
Poisonous if ingested. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems).
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Poisonous
Bulb
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Fruit
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Container
Naturalized Area
Poisonous to Humans
Weedy

Allium sphaerocephalon Attributes

Allium sphaerocephalon: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe, northern Africa, western Asia

Allium sphaerocephalon: Wildlife Value

Deer and rabbit resistive

Allium sphaerocephalon: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

normally not susceptible to animals, drought

Allium sphaerocephalon: Edibility

Flowers, stems bulbs are edible. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.

Allium sphaerocephalon: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Allium sphaerocephalon: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Allium sphaerocephalon Flowers

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Description

Flowers emerge green and mature to reddish-purple in a 1 inch wide umbel that opens top to bottom and resembles clover flowers. The flowering period is from very late spring to early summer for 3-4 weeks. Flowers are small, 6-parted, and in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. The plant smells of garlic or onion. Bulblets sometimes form after flowering.

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Allium sphaerocephalon: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Allium sphaerocephalon Leaves

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Description

Round, hollow, grassy, gray-green leaves up to 14" long form a foliage clump in spring. The plant smells of garlic or onion.

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Allium sphaerocephalon: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Allium sphaerocephalon: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Allium sphaerocephalon Poisonous to Humans

Allium sphaerocephalon: Poison Symptoms

Poisonous if ingested. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems).

Allium sphaerocephalon: Poison Toxic Principle

Sulfides

Allium sphaerocephalon: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Allium sphaerocephalon: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Allium sphaerocephalon: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Allium sphaerocephalon Whole Plant Traits

Allium sphaerocephalon: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Allium sphaerocephalon Cultural Conditions

Allium sphaerocephalon: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Allium sphaerocephalon: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Allium sphaerocephalon: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Allium sphaerocephalon: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Allium sphaerocephalon: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Allium sphaerocephalon: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Allium sphaerocephalon Fruit

Allium sphaerocephalon: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Allium sphaerocephalon Stem

Allium sphaerocephalon: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Allium sphaerocephalon Landscape

Allium sphaerocephalon: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Allium sphaerocephalon: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Allium sphaerocephalon: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Allium sphaerocephalon: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Allium sphaerocephalon: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy