Allium Species, Persian Onion, Star of Persia

Alliumcristophii

Family
Amaryllidaceae (am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Allium (AL-ee-um)
Synonym
Allium albopilosum
Allium bodeanum
Allium walteri
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Herbaceous
Smooth
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Danger
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color
Lavender
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other Details
Category
Bulbs
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Lincoln, (258 reports)

Anchorage, Alaska

Sebastopol, California

Sun City Center, Florida

Lula, Georgia

Winterville, Georgia

Glencoe, Illinois

Winnetka, Illinois

Inwood, Iowa

Adamstown, Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Ludington, Michigan

Warren, Michigan

Eveleth, Minnesota

Florence, Mississippi

Dover, New Hampshire

Buffalo, New York

Hilton, New York

Rugby, North Dakota

MOUNT HOOD PARKDALE, Oregon

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Brazoria, Texas

Lubbock, Texas

Salt Lake City, Utah

Vernal, Utah

Kalama, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Buffalo, West Virginia

Dodgeville, Wisconsin

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

9
positives
2
neutrals
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
A
Lubbock, TX (Zone 7b) | April 2014 | positive

I inherited these bulbs when I bought my house. All I saw the first year were the scraggly leaves, and I had no idea what they were. Af...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | February 2014 | positive

Big showy silvery-violet spherical inflorescences, about June 1 in Boston Z6a. The foliage disappears while it's blooming. The flower sca...Read More

B
B
Rugby, ND | July 2010 | positive

We moved into our new home in northern North Dakota last fall, I planted 12 bulbs and 11 beautiful flowers grew this year. I planted the...Read More

J
J
Seattle, WA (Zone 8b) | February 2009 | positive

I put in a dozen bulbs amongst Lady's Mantle in the autumn of 2007. The following spring, all 12 emerged then produced 10" spheres of am...Read More

C
Lula, GA (Zone 7b) | August 2008 | positive

This plant elicits comments and questions more than any in my garden when it's blooming and for weeks afterwards as the dry seedhead stil...Read More

W
Jones Creek, TX (Zone 9a) | June 2006 | positive

This is another huge globed Allium, with it's 10+ inch globes that are an incredible Deep Violet color with a hint of Silver and a touch ...Read More

P
Mount Pleasant, MI (Zone 4b) | June 2005 | positive

Planted Star of Persia last fall on a whim -- and what a successful whim it was! All five bloomed this late spring (just as iris were fad...Read More

K
K
Oostburg, WI (Zone 5b) | June 2005 | positive

These are fantastic! My husband calls them dandilions on steriods! I planted 5 or 6 bulbs 3 years ago. The first year, only one deform...Read More

T
(Zone 4a) | September 2003 | positive

I have several bulbs growing happily here in Zone 4, and without winter mulch. Perhaps it is the thaw-
freeze cycles that determ...Read More

K
K
Mount Prospect, IL (Zone 5a) | July 2003 | neutral

I have not found this variety of allium to be hardy in Zone 5, even with mulch! The only occasion this variety overwinters is when we ha...Read More

G
Wentworth, SD (Zone 4a) | November 2000 | neutral

Allium christophii bears the largest flowers in the genus. Spherical clusters 8-12" across, composed of many amethyst blue star s...Read More

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