Serendipity Ornamental Onion (Allium 'Serendipity')
AL-lee-um 'Serendipity'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-forming in the Amaryllidaceae Family
A compact sport of Millenium with reddish-purple summer blooms and blue-green, non-twisting foliage.
Allium 'Serendipity' is a naturally occurring sport of Allium 'Millenium' discovered in 2012 at a Michigan nursery and patented (US PP32,023) by Walters Gardens' breeder Eric Sal. It forms a dense, upright clump of stiff, flattened, glaucous blue-green foliage topped in late summer by reddish-purple globe-shaped flower clusters that persist for weeks and draw abundant pollinator traffic.

Pros

  • Distinctive glaucous blue-green foliage that holds its color and shape all season
  • Long-lasting reddish-purple summer blooms attract bees and butterflies
  • Compact, non-flopping clumping habit needs no staking
  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant, drought-tolerant once established

Cons

  • Patented plant — propagation for resale requires a license from Walters Gardens
  • Must be propagated by division; does not come true from seed
  • Foliage dies back in winter, leaving a gap in the border
  • Mild skin/eye irritant and toxic to pets if ingested, like other alliums
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 20 inches tall. 10 - 15 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Drought tolerant once established; avoid soggy or poorly drained sites.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Bulbs for Fall Planting, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Ornamental, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period July-August
Flower Color Rosy-Purple
Foliage Color Blue-Green
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Rankings
 

In The News

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with ornamental grasses, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, and other late-summer bloomers that share its sun and drought tolerance.

Photos of This with...

Serendipity Ornamental Onion, Surefire Red Begonia, Lo & Behold Purple Haze Butterfly Bush, Color Coded The Price Is White Coneflower, Diamond Snow Spurge, Morning Light Maiden Grass, Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage, Supertunia Bordeaux Petunia, Garden Girls Party Girl Garden Phlox, Lemon Coral Stonecrop, ColorBlaze El Brighto Coleus,
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 10/04
2024 : 02/08 - 05/04
2023 : 03/02 - 05/21

© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!