Allium sikkimense

RHS Plant Profile

Himalayan allium

Dorling Kindersley Ltd

Other common names

blue-flowered onion, Sikkim onion

Synonyms

Allium kansuense
Allium tibeticum
Allium cyaneum var. brachystemon

Bulbs

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A clump-forming, bulbous perennial, to 25cm tall, with erect, linear basal leaves. Blue flowers, each up to 1cm long, are borne in small, pendent umbels in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun

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): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

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: Himalaya Tibet China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in reasonably fertile well-drained soil with full sun at the front of the border. Further allium cultivation advice

Propagation

Divide clumps in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to onion fly

Diseases

May be susceptible to onion white rot, downy mildews and occasionally leek rust