This plant is a member of the onion family, so the leaves resemble those of onions, chives and garlic. As an ornamental onion, it was bred to have a large, tight, softball-sized globe of lilac purple florets up to 8 inches in diameter which attracts bees and butterflies in late spring.

'Gladiator' grows to around 3-4 feet in height and prefers sunny well-drained locations. While spectacular on its own, it pairs well with peonies and irises which bloom at around the same time. The flower head can be dried for flower arrangements.

Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is no longer being updated.