Allium 'Forelock'

‘Forelock’ is instantly recognisable by its egg-shaped maroon-purple flower heads, each crowned by an eccentric tuft of elongated florets resembling a jaunty lock of hair. The fragrant blooms rise on sturdy stems above a spring clump of strap-shaped leaves, creating a witty but sophisticated accent from late spring into summer. Butterflies and bees visit the nectar-rich heads, while deer and rabbits avoid the onion-scented foliage. Excellent fresh or dried, its unusual silhouette works particularly well among grasses and pale perennials, and the seed heads remain decorative for weeks.