Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Bobblehead Ornamental Onion: Pale Lilac Globes Among Lavender
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Bobblehead ornamental onion lives up to its name. In midsummer, tall, straight stems carry perfectly round flower heads three to three and a half inches across, packed with tiny starry florets in pale lilac-pink, and they really do bob above the foliage on a breezy day.
Below the flowers, wide, blue-green leaves twist gently along their length, so the clump looks good before and after bloom. Its colors sit right beside lavender's on the color wheel, and its round shape is the perfect foil for lavender's spikes.
Bobblehead at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Allium 'Bobblehead' |
| Flowers | Pale lilac globes, 3 to 3.5 inches across, followed by round tan seed heads |
| Foliage | Wide, flat, glaucous blue-green straps with a twist |
| Size | 30 to 32 inches tall in bloom, 20 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-July, peaks early August, long blooming |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; deer resistant |
Why it works with lavender
Bobblehead starts flowering in mid-July, about when many English lavenders are finishing their main flush. That timing keeps lilac color in the bed after the lavender harvest. The globes then turn into neat round seed heads that hold the shape for weeks.
Its needs line up with lavender's almost exactly: sun, lean soil, good drainage and little water once settled. Its blue foliage also blends with lavender's silver leaves. Plant it in small groups of three between lavender mounds, or as a row in front of taller lavenders where the globes can float at about the same height as the lavender flowers. The Companion Plant Planner makes it easy to try spacing.
Planting and care
- Soil: lean to average and well drained. Soggy soil in wet summers can rot the rhizomes.
- Water: through the first season, then only in long dry spells.
- Seed heads: leave them for winter interest, or deadhead if you want to limit seedlings.
- Cleanup: leave the leaves until they yellow, then trim in late fall or early spring.
- Dividing: split clumps in spring every few years.
- Problems: few. Onion thrips and leaf spot can appear, and rot is a risk only in poorly drained ground.
Cutting and drying
Bobblehead rates well as both a cut and a dried flower. Cut fresh globes when about half the florets are open. For drying, let the heads mature on the plant and cut them as they turn tan. A bundle of dried lavender with two or three round allium heads is a nice change from the usual all-spike arrangement. The stems carry a mild onion scent, so give fresh cuts a rinse before they go into a vase indoors.
Ordering format
Bobblehead is offered as a bare root plant, ready to set into the garden. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a bulb I plant in fall?
No. This is a clump-forming ornamental onion that grows from rhizomes, sold here as a bare root plant. It stays in the ground and comes back each year as a clump.
Do rabbits and deer bother it?
Its onion scent means deer and rabbits usually leave it alone.
Can I eat it?
It is an ornamental and not recommended for eating.
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