Blue globe onion (Allium caeruleum) — Bulbs, size 4/5
- Regular price
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€24,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€24,95
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Frequently asked questions
When does the blue globe onion flower? In June and July, at the top of slender stems 40 to 60 cm tall.
How deep should Allium caeruleum bulbs be planted? 8 cm deep, tip upwards, in groups of 10 to 20 bulbs spaced 5 to 8 cm apart.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
💙 Sky-blue globes • 🌿 Slender stems 40 to 60 cm tall • 🌤️ Flowers in June-July • 🐝 Very bee-friendly • ☀️ Full sun • 💐 Cut flower • 🧊 Very hardy • 🔁 Naturalizes year after year • 📏 Bulb size 4/5
The blue globe onion (Allium caeruleum) is one of the few truly blue alliums: in June and July, each bulb produces a slender stem 40 to 60 cm tall topped by a globe 3 to 4 cm across, made up of around thirty small starry sky-blue flowers. The species is native to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, from Russia to Xinjiang in China, where it grows on dry steppes.
Its sky-blue globes keep the same shade from the start to the end of flowering and attract bees and bumblebees. Among our flower bulbs, it is the only blue allium, to be planted in tight clumps between perennials.
How many bulbs should you choose?
The blue globe onion is planted in tight clumps so that its slender stems form patches of color: allow about 50 bulbs per square meter, or 15 to 20 bulbs in a pot 30 cm in diameter.
- 40 bulbs: about 1 m², or two large pots on a terrace.
- 80 bulbs: about 1.5 m², for an edging along a path.
- 160 bulbs: about 3 m², to dot blue patches throughout a perennial border.
- 320 bulbs: about 6 m², for a flowering meadow or a large dry garden.
The larger the pack, the lower the price per bulb: the 320-bulb pack costs less than half as much per bulb as the 40-bulb pack.
Planting & location
The bulbs are planted from September to December, as long as the ground is not frozen, for flowers in June and July.
- Exposure: full sun, at least 6 hours a day; in partial shade, the stems stretch and flop.
- Depth: 8 cm, tip upwards; these small size 4/5 bulbs root quickly.
- Spacing: 5 to 8 cm between bulbs, in groups of 10 to 20 for a clump effect.
- Soil type: well drained, even poor, sandy or chalky; the bulb rots in soil that stays waterlogged in winter.
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C in the ground, no protection needed.
The species comes from the steppes: it likes dry summers, which help it flower again every year.
Watering & care
The blue globe onion lives on its reserves and makes do with rainfall when planted in the ground.
- Watering: low — water once at planting, then only if the spring is very dry; in pots, when the potting mix is dry several centimeters down, which you can confirm with the finger test.
- In pots: a free-draining compost lightened with one third sand or fine gravel, with a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom.
- Fertilizer: unnecessary in the ground, as the species prefers poor soils; in a pot, a bulb fertilizer in spring.
- After flowering: let the stems and leaves dry in place; they rebuild the bulb's reserves for the following year.
The slender leaves start to turn yellow as soon as it flowers: this is normal, the flowering stems stay upright and green until the flowers are over.
Decorating ideas & plant pairings
Its small blue globes float above perennials and grasses, in borders as well as in pots on a sunny terrace, following the pointers in our guide to plants for a sunny balcony.
- For a blue border, plant it among the blue fescue 'Azura Blue' — its silvery-blue tufts echo the color of the globes and hide the yellowing leaves.
- For a dry garden, pair it with lavender 'Hidcote Blue' — the same liking for dry soils, and its dark violet spikes take over in July.
- For a succession of alliums, plant the round-headed leek alongside — its purple heads open in July, as the blue globes finish.
- For a color contrast, add a few Allium 'Mount Everest' at the back of the border — their large white globes at 1.20 m tower over the small blue globes.
For a terrace version, plant 15 to 20 bulbs in the white Elho Greenville Round pot in the 30 cm size: the white makes the blue flowers stand out.
Verdeia tips
- Plant as soon as they arrive: these small bulbs dry out quickly in the open air; plant them within a few days, or keep them somewhere cool in a paper bag.
- Cut them for your bouquets: picked when half the flowers in the globe are open, the stems last about two weeks in a vase and keep their blue.
- Let them naturalize: don't dig up the bulbs, they overwinter in the ground like the species in our selection of cold-hardy plants, and the small bulbils formed in the globes produce new clumps.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Allium caeruleum
- Common name: Blue globe onion, blue garlic
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Origin: species native to Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Delivery: dry bulbs, size 4/5 (4 to 5 cm in circumference), in packs of 40, 80, 160 or 320
- Flowering height: 40 to 60 cm
- Flowering: June-July, sky-blue globes 3 to 4 cm across
- Planting: September to December, 8 cm deep
- Exposure: full sun
- Watering: low
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C
- Soil type: well drained, tolerates poor, sandy and chalky soils
- Life cycle: perennial, blooms again every year and naturalizes
- Bee-friendly: very attractive to bees, bumblebees and butterflies
- Care: very easy
- Toxicity: toxic to animals (dogs and cats) if ingested, like all alliums
- Decorative style: Dry garden / Flowering meadow / Boho
Each bulb is unique: the height of the stems and the size of the globes vary naturally depending on the soil and sun exposure.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.