Botanical name
Allium cristophii
Other names
Star of persia, Allium christophii, Allium albopilosum
Genus
Allium
Species
A. cristophii – A. cristophii is a deciduous, bulbous perennial, with strap-shaped, grey-green leaves dying back at flowering and, in early summer, spherical heads of star-shaped, purple-pink flowers followed by showy seed-heads.
Native to
Central Asia, Turkey
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Erect
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Purple in Summer
Foliage
Grey-green in Summer
HOW TO CARE
Watch out for
Pests
Pest free, may suffer from slugs on new growth.
Specific pests
Slugs , Onion fly
Specific diseases
Onion rot , Downy mildew
General care
Pruning
Remove leaves only after they have completely died down.
Propagation methods
Seed, Offsets
Allium cristophii (Star of persia) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Gravel
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Add grit to heavy soils to improve drainage.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
