Round-headed leek (Allium sphaerocephalon) — Bulbs, size 5/6
- Regular price
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€23,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€23,95
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Frequently asked questions
When should round-headed leek bulbs be planted? From September to December, 8–10 cm deep, in groups of 10 to 20 bulbs in well-drained, sunny soil.
Does round-headed leek self-seed? Yes, it forms bulblets and self-seeds in dry, light soils, so the clumps grow denser year after year.
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.
💜 Oval heads, green then purple • 🌿 Slender stems 50 to 70 cm • 🌤️ Blooms in July-August • 🐝 Very bee-friendly • ☀️ Full sun • 🌾 For cutting and drying • 🧊 Very hardy • 🔁 Naturalizes year after year • 📏 Bulb size 5/6
The round-headed leek (Allium sphaerocephalon) flowers once the other alliums have finished: in July and August, each bulb produces a slender 50 to 70 cm stem topped with an oval head 2 to 4 cm long, green at first, which turns garnet purple from the top down. The species is native to Europe (France, Spain, Italy) and the Mediterranean basin, where it grows wild on dry grassland and chalky banks.
Its small two-tone heads attract bees and butterflies all summer, then dry on the plant for bouquets. Among our flower bulbs, it is the latest-flowering allium and the easiest to naturalize: its bulbs multiply on their own year after year.
How many bulbs should you choose?
Round-headed leek is planted in tight clumps so its slender stems support each other: allow about 40 bulbs per square meter, or 15 to 20 bulbs in a 30 cm diameter pot.
- 100 bulbs: about 2.5 m², or five to six large pots on a terrace.
- 200 bulbs: about 5 m², for a long border along a path or a fence.
- 400 bulbs: about 10 m², to scatter patches of purple through a whole bed of perennials and grasses.
- 800 bulbs: about 20 m², for a wildflower meadow or a large dry garden.
The larger the pack, the lower the price per bulb: the 800-bulb pack costs less than half the per-bulb price of the 100-bulb pack.
Planting & location
The bulbs are planted from September to December, as long as the ground is not frozen, for flowers in July and August.
- Exposure: full sun, at least 6 hours a day; in partial shade, the stems stretch and flop.
- Depth: 8 to 10 cm, pointed end up; these small size 5/6 bulbs root quickly.
- Spacing: 8 to 10 cm between bulbs, in groups of 10 to 20 for a clump effect; 4 to 5 cm in a pot.
- Soil type: well drained, even poor, sandy, stony or chalky; the bulb rots in soil that stays waterlogged in winter.
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C in the ground, no protection needed.
For a natural look, toss a handful of bulbs onto the ground and plant them where they land: the clumps will look self-sown, as in a wild meadow.
Watering & care
Round-headed leek copes very well with drought: in the ground, rainwater is enough, and it gets through hot summers without flagging, like the species in our selection of heat-tolerant plants.
- Watering: low — water once at planting, then only in a very dry spring; in a pot, when the potting mix is dry several centimeters down, as confirmed by the finger test.
- In a pot: a well-draining potting mix lightened with a third of 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 thin, hollow leaves start to wither before the flowers open: this is normal, and the flowering stems stay straight and green until the end of summer.
Decorating ideas & plant pairings
Its purple heads float above perennials and grasses and sway in the slightest breeze, in beds or on a balcony, as shown in our guide to balcony plants by exposure.
- For a succession of alliums from May to August, plant it with Allium 'Purple Sensation' and Star of Persia — the first flowers in May, the second in June, and round-headed leek takes over in July.
- For a dry-garden bed, pair it with lavender 'Hidcote Blue' — the same summer flowering, the same love of dry soil, and the violet-blue spikes set off the purple heads.
- For a meadow effect, grow it among the set of 4 Festuca, Carex and Uncinia grasses — the oval heads rise out of the 50 cm tufts and sway above the blue, yellow and red foliage.
- For a balcony version, plant 15 to 20 bulbs in the green Elho Greenville Easy Balcony planter in the 25 cm size — hung on the railing, it brings the purple pompoms up to eye level, and its green echoes the stems.
The dried heads keep their shape and a purplish-brown tint all autumn: leave them in the garden, where they self-seed, or cut them for a dried bouquet.
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 bouquets: picked when half the head has turned purple, the stems last two weeks in a vase and finish coloring; hung upside down, they dry while keeping their color.
- Let them naturalize: don't dig up the bulbs — they overwinter in the ground like the species in our guide to cold-hardy plants, and form denser clumps every year.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Allium sphaerocephalon
- Common name: Round-headed leek, drumstick allium
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Origin: species native to Europe (France, Spain, Italy) and the Mediterranean basin
- Delivery: dry bulbs, size 5/6 (5 to 6 cm in circumference), in packs of 100, 200, 400 or 800
- Flowering height: 50 to 70 cm
- Flowering: July-August, oval heads 2 to 4 cm long, green then garnet purple
- Planting: September to December, 8–10 cm deep
- Exposure: full sun
- Watering: low
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C
- Soil type: well drained, tolerates poor, sandy, stony 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 / Country / Wildflower meadow
Each bulb is unique: the height of the stems and the size of the heads 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.