Allium giganteum actually Allium ampeloprasum var ampeloprasum

So popular overseas, used a huge amount at Great Dixter. A whopper. Sow the seed too.

Up to 2m in height, with spreading, glossy, pale green, strap-shaped basal leaves which die down before the flowers. No stakes required. Dense globose umbels of lilac-pink flowers to 10cm across with prominent stamens, are borne on tall stems in summer. They even stand up in amongst a few supporting actors to create a wonderful impression. At this stage the leaves are going over from the the tips down while the flowers are long lasting with globes fading and dying but retaining an impressive presence none the less (if you follow Piet Oudolf and like desiccated autumn and winter foliage). Drought tolerant.

  
More coming but slow to get up to size from seed.They do bulk up reasonable quickly. And this is the thing that makes them NOT Allium giganteum as previously advertised. They form garlic-like cloves and peel off from each other, one making 4 or 5 in a year. A. giganteum is a true bulb with layers like an onion. (Which I am still to find, it seems, out there somewhere)  OK in your garden but too slow for a nursery! Only a few bulbs. One flowering one per pot. Dormant until June.

First image my stock plants in front of the nursery.

Second image nicked form Lynne Atkins formerly of Greenhaugh Gardens who nicked it from Great Dixter. Many thanks to Lynne for the correct name.