Allium 'Big Beauty' is a striking ornamental onion featuring dense globe shaped clusters of vivid pink purple florets held on sturdy stems above glossy green strappy foliage. The large rounded flower heads appear in late spring and persist well into summer, creating a bold vertical accent in mixed borders and attracting a host of beneficial pollinators.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained soil
Watering Needs: Low to moderate
Deer Resistance: Deer and rabbit resistant
Native Status
This is a cultivated hybrid ornamental onion, not native to North America, but bred for garden performance and pollinator appeal.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Draws Painted Ladies and Swallowtails with its bright nectar rich blooms.
Bees
- Highly attractive to honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary native bees during peak bloom.
Moths
- Visited by dusk flying moths such as the Hummingbird Clearwing in early summer gardens.
Beneficial Insects
- Supports hoverflies and parasitic wasps which aid in pest control while feeding on nectar.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to showcase each bloom cluster and maintain airflow around foliage.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for sunny borders, cottage gardens, or as focal points in pollinator plantings. Strong enough to stand in gravel beds or minimalist modern schemes.
Companion Plants
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - Tall purple spikes harmonize with Allium’s flower heads while supporting pollinators.
- Lavandula angustifolia - Aromatic foliage and soft purple flowers contrast nicely with Allium’s form and color.
- Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' - Offers a bold color echo with feathery foliage and flat topped flowers.
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' - Light, airy yellow flowers create contrast with Allium’s pink purple hues.
- Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) - Delicate silver foliage and spires of lavender blue blooms complement Allium’s rounded form.