Ornamental Black Garlic Bulbs

Allium hollandicum 'Nigrum' AKA Black Garlic

Allium nigrum bulbs, despite the common name Black Garlic, is a white allium bulb. It produces tall stemmed, creamy white globular flowers in late spring or early summer depending on weather and location.

Allium nigrum is a favourite in our range of flowering alliums with delicate star-shaped flowers in pom-pom clusters that form most a nearly complete sphere; think of a tennis ball with a bit cut off !).

The blooms are made up of creamy-white to light-purple petals surrounding a green pearl-like centre; a jewel of the garden. Presented on tall stems growing up to 90cm in height, allium nigrum creates what the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) calls 'a striking silhouette.'

This is one of the larger and more versatile of the flowering allium family. It's a robust, very hardy, clump forming perennial and is ideal for a sunny herbaceous border. Plant in groups for the greatest impact.

Why we like it

• It's versatile; creating a dramatic contemporary statement, or equally at home in a traditional cottage garden
• Easy to care for and very hardy

Planting Allium Nigrum know-how

• Plant in autumn in a sunny or shady spot
• Plant bulbs 15cm deep and 10-15cm apart
• A total spread averaging 30cm
• Likes fertile well drained soil
• Its grey-green leaves start to die back after blooming in early summer, so disguise amongst floor-covering flowers and shrubs

Top tip

Avoid over watering in late summer once they become dormant, says the RHS.

White alliums have grown in popularity after their appearance in Cleve West's winning Best in Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2012.
Confusingly, pioneering botanist Linnaeus named the predominantly white flowered Allium nigrum - meaning black - after its dark-green-black centre.

Please note that this bulb is not edible and has nothing to do with the Asian delicacy black garlic, which is prepared by slow cooking normal edible garlic, Allium sativum, in a moist environment over a few weeks.