This is a sterile interspecific hybrid, so its flowers will bloom for a long time. By contrast, one of its parents, Allium macleanii var. elatum, is so fertile and attractive to pollinators (mostly bees of various species) that individual florets are quickly pollinated, and their color soon fades. On the other hand, var. elatum has scapes approaching 5 feet (150 cm) and compound bulbs of 5 or 6 cloves. In its native habitat in Central Asia, the bulbs are pickled. Its leaves are broad, somewhat oblanceolate, and in Glencoe often are 30 inches (76 cm) long and 4 inches (10 cm) wide at their greatest breadth, which is near the tip.