Purple Sensation Allium
Purple Sensation Allium is a hybrid allium. Skin runs to deep purple to violet flower heads. Water need is moderate water during growing season, dry dormancy preferred. Suits zones 4-8. It will crop in a container. As a hybrid it will not breed true; saving seed from it is not worth the space.
Sowing
Plant bulbs 4-6 inches deep in fall, before ground freezes. Can start from seed but takes 2-3 years to flower.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- Moderate water during growing season, dry dormancy preferred
- Soil
- Well-drained soil, tolerates poor soils once established
- Soil pH
- 6.0-8.0
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches apart
- Height
- 1-6 feet
- Season
- Plant bulbs in fall for spring blooms
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Deep purple to violet flower heads
- Size
- 4-6 inch diameter flower globes
- Shape
- Perfect spherical flower heads on tall straight stems
- Flavour
- Ornamental variety, not typically used for culinary purposes
In the kitchen
Primarily ornamental. Flowers are edible and can be used as garnish, but grown mainly for beauty.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Few pest problems, deer and rabbit resistant
- Diseases
- Root rot in poorly drained soils, otherwise very healthy
- Resistance
- Excellent disease resistance, very low maintenance
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | August – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | August – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | July – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | June – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | June – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | May – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | April – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | March – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | March – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | March – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 40
- Protein (g)
- 1.1
- Fat (g)
- 0.1
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 9.34
- Fibre (g)
- 1.7
- Sugars (g)
- 4.24
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 0
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 7.4
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.02
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 0.4
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.12
- Folate (µg)
- 19
- Calcium (mg)
- 23
- Iron (mg)
- 0.21
- Magnesium (mg)
- 10
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 29
- Potassium (mg)
- 146
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.17
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.5
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Purple Sensation Allium?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other alliums with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Purple Sensation Allium suits these too.
- Italian Red Torpedo Onion 95 days
- Bandit 120 days
- Red Wing Storage Onion 110 days
- Red Carpet Chives 75 days
- Ailsa Craig Sweet Onion 110 days
- Evergreen Hardy White 65 days