Allium Round and Purple bears incredibly large flower heads on tall, sturdy stems. Its a fantastic choice for growing towards the back of sunny borders, and makes an impressive cut flower, both fresh and dried.
For best results, plant bulbs in fertile, well-drained soil up to three times their diameter. Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Allium Round and Purple isnt fully hardy and in colder regions should be mulched, or planted in pots and moved to a frost free area in autumn.
As a passionate gardener, I’m always on the lookout for unique plants that can add a dramatic focal point or whimsical accent to my backyard beds and borders. Lately, I’ve become enamored with tall flowers that bear stunning round, pom pom-shaped blooms in rich shades of purple. With their eye-catching globular flowers held aloft on towering stems, these beauties provide ample visual delight, attracting admiring looks from passersby and pollinators alike.
In this article I’ll highlight my top picks for statuesque purple-sphere flowers and provide tips to incorporate them into your own outdoor space. Prepare for these striking plants to elevate your garden with their vibrant spheres of floral delight!
Alliums Usher in Purple Globes
One of the most popular options for big bold purple balls comes from the allium family. These ornamental onions produce rounded clusters of tiny violet florets on strong upright stems reaching 2 to 4 feet tall in most varieties. Their flowerheads range from 4 to 10 inches across, making an unmistakable statement in beds, borders or containers.
A few of my favorite varieties of alliums with impressive purple pom poms include:
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Allium ‘Globemaster’ – One of the largest allium varieties with colossal 10-inch blooms atop 3-4 foot stems. Its huge silvery-purple flowerheads never fail to impress.
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Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ – A classic with deep violet sphere-shaped blooms on thick, straight 3 foot stems. It makes a fantastic cutting flower.
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Allium ‘Millenium’ – A mid-sized allium reaching 15-20 inches tall. It offers neat clumps of rosy-purple blooms on sturdy upright stems.
For optimal growth, plant allium bulbs in fall in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Nestle them 6 inches deep and 12-18 inches apart. Established alliums are drought tolerant and make outstanding cut flowers. Their nectar-rich blooms also attract pollinators.
Spiky Globe Thistles Add Unique Texture
If you love the round shape but crave some added texture, then you need globe thistles (echinops) in your garden. Also called blue-globe thistle, these boast prickly foliage and vibrant spherical flowerheads. The blooms rise above the spiny leaves on tall, sturdy stems.
Some top globe thistle picks include:
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Echinops ritro – This variety has electric blue spheres and typically reaches 3 feet tall. The cut flowers last over 2 weeks in arrangements.
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Echinops bannaticus ‘Blue Globe’ – A compact 18-inch variety with intense violet-blue blooms starting in midsummer.
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Echinops sphaerocephalus ‘Arctic Glow’ – A giant reaching 5-6 feet with large blue-purple globes tinged with rosy pink.
For best growth, plant globe thistles in full sun and lean, dry soil with excellent drainage. Give them ample space 2-3 feet apart. The unique dried seedheads persist through winter, providing continued interest. Their nectar-laden blooms also attract butterflies.
Whimsical Billy Balls Offer Golden Globes
For something more playful, grow the Australian native Craspedia, also called Billy balls or drumstick flowers. They produce multitudes of tiny bright yellow ball-shaped blooms on upright stems, each about an inch wide.
Some top varieties include:
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Craspedia ‘Gold Nuggets’ – A hardy 12-15 inch tall variety with prolific golden spheres on dark stems.
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Craspedia ‘Goldfield’ – A taller 2 foot variety with large yellow pompoms starting in midsummer. It’s quite heat and drought tolerant.
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Craspedia ‘Billy Buttons’ – A compact type that blooms heavily early summer into fall. It mixes well with purple-toned flowers.
Grow Craspedia in full sun and very well-drained, even sandy soil. Space plants 8-12 inches apart. Use them in borders, containers or cut arrangements. The dried blooms remain round and keep their golden hue for months.
Growing Tips for Purple Ball Flowers
To successfully grow eye-catching flowers with spherical purple blooms, keep these tips in mind:
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Plant in full sun (at least 6 hours daily) for prolific flowering. Morning sunlight is especially beneficial.
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Choose a site with very well-draining soil. Amend clay soils with compost to improve drainage.
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Allow enough space between plants to prevent overcrowding as they mature. Check recommended spacing.
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Apply a slow-release balanced fertilizer at planting time and again midseason. Avoid high nitrogen formulas.
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Water thoroughly after planting and give 1-2 inches of water per week during the growing season.
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Stake taller varieties like alliums and globe thistles to avert toppling from rain and wind.
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Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flower production. Leave some for wildlife habitat and seed production.
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Divide dense clumps every 3-5 years in fall. Promptly replant divisions.
Revel in Purple Spheres
Add some pizzazz to your landscape with statuesque plants flaunting spherical posies in rich shades of purple. Use them as anchors in borders, focal points in beds, or thriller elements in containers. Watch them draw admiring looks from visitors and pollinators alike. With proper site preparation and care, you’ll enjoy their vivid globes for years to come. Try adding a few this season for big, bodacious bursts of purple delight!
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round purple flowers
FAQ
What is a tall purple flower with a round head?
Allium. Alliums (Allium spp.) are a welcome addition to the landscape, not only for their color but also for their globular shape. The flower head is made of clusters of individual florets that create a full and lush round shape.
Do giant alliums come back every year?
… a huge amount of gorgeousness in return for the littlest amount of effort – you simply put them in the ground and they magically return spring after springJan 8, 2021
What flower has a purple ball head?
Allium ‘Round ‘n’ Purple’
What is a giant Allium ’round and purple’?
The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. Giant Allium ‘Round and Purple’ is a spectacular addition to the garden with its star-shaped lavender flowers forming a 6-inch wide (15 cm) globe-shaped cluster. These are probably the biggest flower heads of all Alliums.
Which flowers have the most unusual shapes?
Some of the flowers with the most unusual shapes are flowers that are shaped like balls or spheres. In most cases the flowers are actually a round-shaped cluster of many blooms of one color that give the appearance of a ball. Ornamental onions produce flowers that are globe shaped.
What flowers bloom on the same plant?
Clear blue, vivid pink, snowy white, lavender, and rose blossoms occasionally bloom on the same plant, enticing us with their colors. These beautiful blooms are one of the most popular flowers because they are great for various garden locations, from container gardens to shrub borders to group plantings.
What flowers look like a ball?
There are many genera of plants that have flowers that look like a ball. Alliums and hydrangeas are some of the most common that you will find, but they are not the only. From vibrant and eye-catching to subtle and calming, round-shaped flowers come in an array of colors, sizes and species. What flowers look like tennis balls? 2.
What does a pincushion flower look like?
Atop sturdy 4-foot stems, the giant purple globes are head-turners. The strappy foliage dies back before flowering, allowing the spheres to take center stage. This aptly named bloom has a distinct rounded shape reminiscent of pins stuck in a pincushion. The dense, small florets cluster together to form the cushion-like flower heads.
What flowers resemble balls or spheres?
Flowers that resemble balls or spheres are among the flowers with the strangest forms. Most of the time, the flowers are a spherical cluster of several blossoms of the same hue that give the impression of a ball, read this article, and you will be discovering a list of these flowers with their unique circular shapes. 1. Ornamental Onions 2.