Rosy-Purple Summer Globes on a Tidy Clump

Windy City Allium (Allium 'Windy City') is a well-behaved, clumping ornamental onion that crowns grassy green foliage with rounded rosy-purple flower globes in mid to late summer. Unlike spring bulb alliums, it forms a neat perennial clump that doesn't flop or spread aggressively, and its blooms are a magnet for bees and butterflies. Tough, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, it's an easy, long-blooming choice for sunny Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury borders.

Landscape Uses

Use Windy City in pollinator and sunny borders, mass plantings, and containers. Its neat clumping habit and long bloom pair beautifully with coneflowers, ornamental grasses, and sedum, and the flowers are great for cutting.

Best Time to Plant

Plant in spring or early fall, when cooler weather and steady moisture help roots establish.

How to Plant

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep.

Watering

First Year: Water deeply 1–2 times per week to establish the roots.
After Year One: Water during dry spells. Allium is quite drought tolerant once established.
Drip Irrigation: A drip line provides efficient, low-water moisture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it spread or flop like bulb alliums?
No, it forms a tidy clump that stays put and holds its shape without flopping.

Is it good for pollinators?
Yes, the summer globes are a favorite of bees and butterflies.

Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, hardy to Zone 4 and reliable across most of the state.

Is it deer resistant?
Yes, the onion scent makes alliums highly deer- and rabbit-resistant.

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Pair Windy City with Millenium and Summer Beauty allium, coneflowers, and grasses for a pollinator-friendly summer border.