Family:	Alliaceae
Genus:	Allium
Species:	cristophii
Common name:	star of Persia
Height:	0.5m
Spread:	0.5m
RHS AGM

Native to Eurasia

Species named for German naturalist Eugenius Johann Cristoph Esper (1742-1810), who discovered the plant in 1883.

Commonly sold as A. christophii.

A bulbous perennial grown for its large flowerheads in early summer, and the seedheads that follow. Height and spread to around 0.5m, hardiness H7.

Leaves are straplike and have the familiar onion smell when crushed. They emerge erect in early spring, but are messy by the time the flower opens.

In June, a tightly-packed bud enclosed in a paper-like pod opens to a large globose umbel, with individual flowers opening over a long period.

Each flower is star-shaped, with six narrow metallic-lilac petals, and is followed by a green seedpod which swells and ripens to brown.

Flowering stems are fleshy but sturdy and straight.

Needs full sun in a sheltered position, happy in coastal areas. Well-drained, or moist but well-drained soil. Any texture, but add grit to clay. Any pH.

Little maintenance required; leaves may be removed prior to flowering if required.

Generally pest-free, but white onion rot or downly mildew can be a problem.

Will self-seed where happy, otherwise sow seeds in autumn or spring.

Leaves are scrappy by flowering time so best mixed with low-growing, spreading plants such as hardy geraniums and Alchemilla, or amongst grasses and late-flowering perennials such as Japanese anemones, whose foliage will arise fresh and new as the Allium flowers.

Also good for a cutting garden; allium flowers should have a little bleach added to the water, seedheads can be dried and used in arrangements.

Where a taller plant is needed, A. ‘Globemaster’ (also RHS AGM) is similar, although with a slightly smaller flowerhead, and A. ‘Purple Rain’ (another RHS AGM), is a cross between A. Cristophii and A. Hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’.