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

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-forming in the Amaryllidaceae Family
A sport of Serendipity with dense, rounded lilac flower heads on sturdy stems above blue-green foliage.
Allium 'Bobblehead' is a patented ornamental onion (US PP36,675) bred by Hans A. Hansen for Walters Gardens, from a cross of Serendipity and an unregistered Hansen seedling called Nor'easter. It forms an upright, clump-forming plant with blue-green strap-like foliage topped by dense, rounded lilac flower heads from midsummer into early fall.

Pros

  • Distinctive dense, rounded bloom heads on sturdy stems
  • Long midsummer-to-fall bloom window
  • Attracts bees and butterflies
  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant, drought-tolerant once established

Cons

  • Patented plant - propagation for resale requires a license from Walters Gardens
  • Foliage can decline before bloom, typical of the genus
  • Toxic to pets if ingested
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 30 - 35 inches tall. 20 - 31 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Blue Foliage, Bulbs for Fall Planting, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Edging, Extended Bloom Time, Formal Garden, Foundation, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Bedding, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Good for Rain Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Mounded, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Acidic Soil, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Midsummer to Early Fall
Flower Color Light Lilac
 

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Pairs well with sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennials and ornamental grasses.
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Pricing and Availability History

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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.


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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!