These are onions with large heads of flowers, usually spherical, with the pointed petals giving the famed ‘exploding firework’ effect. In many of them the flower heads dry in the autumn, and can be used as spectacular Christmas decorations. Flowers are usually pink, purple or white, and leaves may be present at flowering time, or come earlier, withering as the flowers open. In the latter case, cut them back as the flowers start to open.These are onions with large heads of flowers, usually spherical, with the pointed petals giving the famed ‘exploding firework’ effect. In many of them the flower heads dry in the autumn, and can be used as spectacular Christmas decorations. Flowers are usually pink, purple or white, and leaves may be present at flowering time, or come earlier, withering as the flowers open. In the latter case, cut them back as the flowers start to open.

Allium carinatum subsp. pulchellum has heads with lots - 50 to 100 - rich pink flowers, each like a pink drop of water, on long pedicels, arching out and curving gracefully down. The overall effect is like one of those big fireworks, that send out many stars, which move out and down through the stem.