Scientific Name
Allium sphaerocephalon
Common Name
Drumsticks, Ornamental Onion
ALLIUM
sphaerocephalon (Reddish-purple flowers)
A. Flowering Characteristics
A. sphaerocephalon flowers in early summer (June/July) and lasts 3-4 weeks. Plants are 30-40 inches tall with a small, densely packed umbel.
B. General Characteristics
1. Origin of species: Europe
2. Common names: Drumsticks, Ornamental Onion
3. Geophyte organ: Tunicated bulb
4. Hardiness type: Hardy II - Injured at temperatures below 14 degrees F (-10C) when planted.
5. Natural reproductive systems and growth and development requirements: It reproduces by annual daughter bulb replacement and underground bulblets and requires a warm (68 to 73) - cool (28 to 35F) - warm (55 to 65F) annual replacement cycle.
6. Primary uses: Borders, beds, fresh and dried cut flowers.
C. Cultural Information
1. Bulb sizes: 4/5 and 5/up cm, in circumference.
2. Planting density: 2 to 3 inches apart, 20-25 per sq. ft.
3. Planting depth: 5 inches to base of the bulb.
4. Planting time: Fall
5. Climatic zone habit: 1990 USDA Climatic Zone 3 with mulch, 4 to 7 without mulch.
6. Light requirements: Full sunlight to PM only sunlight.
7. Moisture: Tolerates summer drought, but keep moist during growing season.
8. Animal susceptibility: Normally not susceptible.
D. Companion Plants:
Centaurea dealbata, Coreopsis, Campanula, Dianthus, Digitalis, Gypsophila paniculata, Hemerocallis (yellow cvs.), Iris (rhizomatous white and yellow cvs.), Kniphofia (yellow cvs.), Peonies (white and yellow cvs.), Verbascum (white cvs.), Buddleia, Hibiscus syriacus, Acer palmatum, Lagerstroemia.

Holland Technical Service Bulletin Number 31 was prepared for the WWW system by A.A. De Hertogh, L.B. Gallitano, M.E. Traer, and A.B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University. The information was obtained not only from original research conducted by the authors but also from databases released by other sources. This Bulletin was published by the International Flower Bulb Center (IBC), Hillegom, the Netherlands on behalf of the Dutch Flower Bulb Industry. Because of the various climates in North America and year-to-year variability of the weather, the IBC cannot and does not accept responsibility for divergent results that may arise using information obtained from this document or site. Photographs copyright @1997 by A.B. Russell and A.A. De Hertogh. Computer programming by Miguel Buendia, graphics by Brad Capel.