If the words ‘striking’ and ‘impressive’ appeal to you, you’ll definitely want to get your hands on some giant alliums – they’re simply enormous! Either dot them throughout your borders or plant them in bold groups – any style of planting will provide a fabulous effect which will make the colour in your garden seamlessly flow from spring into summer, with true wow factor.

The allium genus is made up of some 260 species of bulbous perennials, many of which are well known in the vegetable garden. Onions, leeks, shallots, garlic, chives – they are easily identifiable because they give off their distinctively pungent scent in varying degrees when the leaves are crushed.

Just about anywhere you look, you’ll find horticulturists saying that Alliums are under-appreciated. But that seems to be changing. Allium Purple Sensation is becoming one of our most popular flower bulbs as UK gardeners jostle to get these sensational plants for their gardens. Let’s take a closer look at this stunner of a plant to see why modern gardening enthusiasts are becoming such big fans. Dutch Garlic? Persian Onion? What’s in a name? In botany, a plant’s name gives us lots of information, but can also lead us astray. Anyone with a smattering of botanical knowledge will know that “Allium” is the Latin name for onions and garlic. And since the Dutch are such big players in the flower bulb...