Create Your Garden

Allium rosenbachianum (Showy Persian Onion)

Showy Persian Onion, Ornamental Allium, Showy Onion,

Allium Rosenbachianum, Ornamental Allium, Showy Persian Onion, Showy Onion, Purple Flowers

Blooming about two weeks earlier than the other large Alliums, Allium rosenbachianum (Showy Persian Onion) is a bulbous perennial with large, rounded umbels, 4 in. across (10 cm), packed with up to 50 deep-purple, star-shaped flowers adorned with prominent, white stamens. Blooming in late spring, the eye-catching flowers are borne on tall leafless stems above the foliage of broad, strap-shaped, gray-green basal leaves which wither as the flowers emerge. The flowers are both long-lasting and excellent as cut flowers.

  • Grows up to 24-36 in. tall (60-90 cm) and 6-12 in. wide (15-30 cm).
  • Thrives in fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Add grit to clay soils to improve drainage.  This Allium is drought tolerant.
  • Lovely in beds and borders, cottage gardens, or rock gardens. To achieve an impressive visual effect, plant in clusters of at least three to five close together.
  • Attracts butterflies, but deer ignore it.
  • Generally pest and disease free. Keep an eye out for onion white rot and downy mildew.
  • Allium rosenbachianum is native to Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Requirements

Hardiness 6 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Amaryllidaceae
Genus Allium
Common names Ornamental Onion, Onion
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spacing 8" - 10"
(20cm - 25cm)
Depth 6" - 8"
(15cm - 20cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Allium
Guides with
Allium
Not sure which Allium to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Allium cepa Aggregatum Group (Shallot)
Allium cepa (Onion)
Allium sativum (Garlic)
Allium ‘Pinball Wizard’ (Ornamental Onion)
Allium ‘Purple Rain’ (Ornamental Onion)
Allium amethystinum ‘Red Mohican’ (Ornamental Onion)

Recommended Companion Plants

Echinacea (Coneflower)
Agastache (Hyssop)
Achillea (Yarrow)
Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
26 Terrific Summer Bulbs to Grow in your Garden or Pots
30 Best Spring Flowers to Spruce up Your Garden
How to Create an Enchanting Butterfly Garden
For the Love of Butterflies: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
6 Reasons You Should Create a Butterfly Garden
For the Love of Bees: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
How to Cultivate a Thriving Bee-Friendly Garden
Popular Flower Bulbs For Your Garden and Pots
18 Best Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Learn How To Plant, Grow and Harvest Chives
Brighten Up Your Garden From January Through May with Colorful Flower Bulbs
Wonderful Plants That Repel Insects
Allium (Ornamental Onion)
Great Rose Companion Plants: Allium
Bulbs that return to the garden year after year!
Tall Alliums for your Garden Borders
Small Allium Species for the Rock Garden
Learn How To Plant And Care for Your Spring Flower Bulbs
Great Bulbs and Perennials as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Plants with Purple Flowers to Add Charm to Your Garden
Awesome Allium Combos
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 6 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Amaryllidaceae
Genus Allium
Common names Ornamental Onion, Onion
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 6" - 1'
(15cm - 30cm)
Spacing 8" - 10"
(20cm - 25cm)
Depth 6" - 8"
(15cm - 20cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Allium
Guides with
Allium
Not sure which Allium to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Allium rosenbachianum (Showy Persian Onion) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Allium rosenbachianum (Showy Persian Onion) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone