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Allium karataviense 'Ivory Queen'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

Kara Tau garlic 'Ivory Queen'

Bulbous perennial to 25cm in height, with broad, paired, lightly pleated, glaucous green leaves, often margined red and tinged with purple, especially beneath. 50 or more umbels to 8cm across of star-shaped, greenish-white flowers are produced in summer

Synonyms
Allium 'Ivory Queen'

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Grey Silver Green
Summer Green White Grey Silver Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun and fertile well-drained soil. It is best to grow in containers where garden soil is heavy clay and prone to saturation over winter. See allium cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by offsets which can be carefully detached by lifting the bulb after flowering has finished. See bulb propagation

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required, the dead seedheads are attractive

Pests

May be susceptible to allium leaf miner and onion fly

Diseases

May be susceptible to onion white rot, and onion downy mildew

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