Allium ochotense

Allium ochotense £3. 50 D Broad leaved, shortly rhizomatous, tightly clump forming, with round heads of creamy-greeny flowers on 30-40cm stems, this East Asian plant works for us as a straightforward hardy perennial in an open, not-too-competitive planting of choice bits and bobs, in partial sun on well drained but not dry soil. It's a close relative of A. victorialis, the original anti-vampire garlic of Europe's mountains, and has often been included in that species as ssp. platyphyllum. Horticulturally, the leaves of this one are a bit more impressive and it seems easier to please, being thoroughly winter-dormant in our climate.