Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

6 Feet

Mature Spread

4-6 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs send up tall, architectural flower stems when the spring bulb show is starting to shift into summer. Allium 'Summer Drummer' can reach 48 to 72 inches tall, topped with large purple-and-white globes made from hundreds of small star-shaped florets. The late bloom time makes it different from many ornamental onions, carrying interest into June, July, and sometimes later. We find it especially useful in the back of a sunny border, where the tall stems can rise through lower perennials without taking up much ground space.

This award-winning allium was introduced by W. Mellema in 2006 and is known as one of the latest and tallest flowering alliums. The stems may mature from green to garnet, and the dried seed heads can remain attractive after the flowers fade. Deer, rabbits, rodents, mice, and chipmunks usually avoid alliums, yet bees, butterflies, and other pollinators visit the blooms. Use Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs behind sedum, among ornamental grasses, near peonies, or in mixed perennial borders where their height adds strong vertical structure.

Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs Care

Plant Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct light for tall stems and strong flower heads. They need well-drained soil and are especially long-lived where summer soil becomes somewhat dry during dormancy. Neutral to slightly acidic soil, about pH 6.0 to 7.0, is a good range, but drainage is the key detail.

Water after fall planting to settle the soil around the bulbs and help root growth begin. In spring, water during dry spells while stems are stretching, but avoid wet soil after bloom when the bulbs are resting. Feed at planting with a bulb fertilizer broadcast over the soil surface, not placed directly in the planting hole. In lean soil, a light top-dressing as shoots emerge can support the foliage and flower stem.

Cut fresh blooms when the globe is partly open, or leave the heads standing to dry in place for late-season structure. Remove spent flower heads if you do not want seedlings, but keep the foliage until it yellows and dries naturally. In colder zones, a light mulch after the ground freezes can help buffer temperature swings; pull it back in spring as shoots appear.

Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs Spacing

Plant Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep, or slightly deeper in loose sandy soil, with the pointed end up. Space bulbs 6 to 8 inches apart for groups, allowing more room when planting among established perennials. Outdoor containers are not the best long-term choice in freeze-thaw climates, but a deep 14- to 16-inch pot can work for a protected seasonal display with sharp drainage and winter shelter.

For container-style displays, pair Summer Drummer Allium Bulbs with low sedum, dianthus, or sea thrift so the tall stems remain the focus. In landscape beds, peonies are excellent partners because their full foliage helps cover allium leaves as they decline. Salvia and yarrow suit the same sunny, well-drained conditions and continue flowering near the base after the allium globes finish.

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