Ipheion 'Wisley Blue' (20)

An RHS Award of Garden Merit favourite, Ipheion 'Wisley Blue' produces masses of star-shaped, soft violet-blue flowers with a delicate honey scent, held on slender stems above grassy, strappy foliage. Flowering over a long period from early to mid spring, it's an easy, unfussy little bulb that spreads readily to form a charming carpet of colour — perfect for underplanting shrubs, edging borders or naturalising in grass.

Reaching around 15-20cm in height, this variety is best planted in early autumn, 5cm deep, in well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. It's fully hardy and thrives with minimal attention once established, gradually multiplying by offsets and self-seeding into generous, long-lived drifts. Note that the foliage has a faint onion-like scent when crushed or damaged, characteristic of this allium relative.