Sicilian honey garlic (Allium siculum) — Bulbs, size 10/12
- Regular price
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€29,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€29,95
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Frequently asked questions
When does Sicilian honey garlic flower? From late May to June, with nodding bells that later turn upright into decorative seed heads.
How tall does Sicilian honey garlic grow? Its flower stems reach 80 cm to 1.20 m, which places it at the back of borders or among ornamental grasses.
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.
🔔 Cream bells streaked with purple • 🌿 Stems 80 cm to 1.20 m tall • 🌤️ Flowers in May-June • 🐝 Very bee-friendly • ☀️ Sun or partial shade • 🌾 Decorative seed heads for dried bouquets • 🧊 Very hardy • 🔁 Naturalizes year after year • 📏 Size 10/12 bulbs
The Sicilian honey garlic (Allium siculum, formerly Nectaroscordum siculum) looks like no other allium: instead of a ball, each bulb produces in May-June a stem 80 cm to 1.20 m tall topped with a cluster of 10 to 30 nodding bells, cream streaked with purple and tinged green at the base. The species is native to Europe (Italy, France, Greece) and the Mediterranean region as far as Turkey, where it grows in open woodland and along woodland edges.
After flowering, the bells turn upright and form seed capsules shaped like little crowns, which stay decorative until autumn. Among our flower bulbs, it is one of the few that flowers as well in sun as in partial shade, and its crushed leaves give off a garlic scent that keeps rodents away.
How many bulbs should you choose?
Sicilian honey garlic is planted in groups so that its clusters of bells can be seen from a distance: allow about 25 bulbs per square meter, or 7 to 10 bulbs in a pot 30 cm in diameter.
- 40 bulbs: about 1.5 m², or four to five large pots on a terrace.
- 80 bulbs: about 3 m², to dot along a long perennial border.
- 160 bulbs: about 6 m², for a whole bed or the edge of a shrub border.
- 320 bulbs: about 13 m², to naturalize in light woodland or a wildflower meadow.
The larger the pack, the lower the price per bulb: the pack of 320 works out at less than half the price per bulb of the pack of 40.
Planting & location
The bulbs are planted from September to December, as long as the ground is not frozen, for flowers in May and June.
- Exposure: sun or partial shade, with at least 4 hours of sun a day; it also flowers at the foot of deciduous shrubs.
- Depth: 10 to 15 cm, tip pointing up; these size 10/12 bulbs produce sturdy stems from the first year.
- Spacing: 10 to 15 cm between bulbs, in groups of 7 to 10; 5 to 8 cm in a pot.
- Soil type: well drained, ordinary to poor; the bulb rots in soil that stays waterlogged in winter.
- Hardiness: down to -25 °C in the ground, no protection needed.
Plant it in clumps rather than in rows: the stems hold each other up better, and the waist-high bells form a cream and purple cloud above the perennials.
Watering & care
Once established, Sicilian honey garlic makes do with rainwater in open ground, and dry summers do not bother it: its bulb goes dormant from July.
- Watering: low — water once at planting, then only if spring is dry while the stems are growing.
- In a pot: a free-draining mix of potting soil, sand and clay pebbles or perlite, with a drainage hole at the bottom.
- Fertilizer: not needed in open ground; in a pot, a bulb fertilizer in spring.
- After flowering: let the leaves turn yellow and dry in place; they rebuild the bulb's reserves for the following year.
The leaves start to yellow just as the flowers open: this is normal, and the flower stems stay green and upright until the seed capsules form.
Decorating ideas & plant pairings
Its clusters of bells sway above perennials and grasses and bring movement to borders and large planters, on a south-facing terrace as well as alongside full-sun balcony plants.
- For a succession of alliums from May to August, plant it with Allium 'Gladiator' and round-headed leek — the large purple globes of the first flower at the same time as the bells, then the round-headed leek takes over in July.
- To hide its yellowing foliage, pair it with Agapanthus 'Poppin Purple' — its clumps of strap-like leaves cover the base of the stems, and its purple umbels flower from July.
- For a graphic border, plant it in front of Miscanthus 'Strictus' — the cream bells stand out against the yellow-banded leaves, and the dry seed heads keep company with the zebra grass plumes all autumn.
- For a terrace version, plant 7 to 10 bulbs in the white Elho Greenville Round pot, 30 cm across — it is deep enough for bulbs planted at 10 cm, and its white picks up the cream of the bells.
The dry seed heads keep their crown shape and a straw color 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: like any plant delivered by parcel, the bulbs benefit from being well looked after from the moment they arrive; plant them within the week, or keep them somewhere cool in a paper bag.
- Cut the seed heads for your bouquets: picked while upright and still green, they dry upside down without losing their shape and last for months in a dry vase.
- Let it naturalize: do not lift the bulbs; they form bulblets and self-seed, and the clumps grow denser year after year.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Allium siculum (syn. Nectaroscordum siculum)
- Common name: Sicilian honey garlic, nectaroscordum
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Origin: species native to Europe (Italy, France, Greece) and the Mediterranean region
- Delivery: dry bulbs, size 10/12 (10 to 12 cm in circumference), in packs of 40, 80, 160 or 320
- Flowering height: 80 cm to 1.20 m
- Flowering: May-June, clusters of 10 to 30 cream bells streaked with purple
- Planting: September to December, 10–15 cm deep
- Exposure: sun or partial shade
- Watering: low
- Hardiness: down to -25 °C
- Soil type: well drained, ordinary to poor
- Life cycle: perennial, blooms again every year and naturalizes
- Bee-friendly: very attractive to bees and bumblebees
- Care: very easy
- Toxicity: toxic to animals (dogs and cats) if ingested, like all alliums
- Decorative style: Boho / Mediterranean / Natural garden
Each bulb is unique: the height of the stems and the number of bells 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.