Allium siculum subsp. dioscoridis

RHS Plant Profile

Bulgarian honey garlic

Synonyms

Allium dioscoridis
Nectaroscordum siculum subsp. bulgaricum
Allium meliophilum
Nectaroscordum meliophilum
Allium bulgaricum
Allium siculum subsp. bulgaricum

Bulbs

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An upright bulbous perennial to 1.2m tall, with narrow keeled leaves to 40cm long, and umbels of nodding green-tinged cream flowers with purple markings, in early summer, followed by erect seed capsules

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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: Correct
Plant Range: Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in almost any type of well-drained soil. Plant in groups 5cm deep and 25cm apart. For best flowering leave bulbs undisturbed. May self-seed freely

Propagation

Sow seed in containers in cold frame in autumn or spring. Remove offsets in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead before seed ripens to prevent self-seeding

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free