Red Mohican Amethyst Allium Bulbs

Red Mohican Alliums

Allium amethystinum 'Red Mohican' is also known as the Amethyst Allium. Either way this is surely the most confident member of our range of allium bulbs for sale. For a start it is not purple as are most alliums, but the deepest wine red. Something really rich and heavy - a Chateauneuf perhaps. And then there is the haircut. Mohicans do not suit everyone, but in this case the raise red crest tipped with tiny white florets is not only a talking point, but also good looking.

The slender but deceptively strong stems grow with the bud drooping but be patient, everything straightens out just before the buds open in June/July. The flower then continues to develop its crest, tuft or (as I am reliably informed) its 'can.

• Colour: Wine Red
• Height: 90-100 cm
• Scent: Faint
• Flowering: May/June
• Bulb Size: 10/12 cm
• Planting Depth: 4 times the height of the bulb
• Planting Months: September - December

Plant alliums such as Red Mohican in borders and containers. They tend to do best where the soil is rich and can be improved with a spring mulch.

The principal requirement is decent drainage - alliums hate permanently wet soil and they grow best in a sunny spot.

Space them quite widely when planting - allium bulbs can be big and a clump will occupy a fair bit of space. The flowers also look better when they are not banging one another the whole time. The planting hole should be about four times deeper than the bulb is tall. The pointy end is the top...

The spent flower heads are very handsome and can be left on the plant or cut to make a dried flower arrangement. Allow the foliage to die back naturally before removing.

By all means apply a high potash fertiliser during the growing season to help bulk up the bulb for next year. Lift and divide clumps of alliums if flowering is poor.