Allium ‘Party Balloons’ – Fun, Fluffy Blooms for Summer Cheer

The Allium ‘Party Balloons’ is a striking ornamental onion, known for its playful, fluffy flower heads that resemble clusters of balloons. Flowering in late spring to early summer, this variety adds structure, texture, and colour to borders just as tulips and daffodils are fading. Its rounded blooms in soft lavender-purple create a whimsical, festive feel in the garden – a real talking point in beds, borders, and mixed displays.

Standing tall on strong, upright stems, ‘Party Balloons’ is ideal for creating vertical accents in planting schemes. The blooms are long-lasting, attractive to pollinators, and make excellent cut or dried flowers, bringing cheer indoors as well as outdoors.

General Information

Alliums are part of the onion family, valued for their ornamental flowers as well as their ease of growth. ‘Party Balloons’ has been specially selected for its fun appearance and garden performance.

• Height: Grows 60–80cm tall.

• Flowers: Fluffy, balloon-like clusters in shades of lavender-purple.

• Flowering season: Late spring to early summer (May to June).

• Foliage: Narrow, strap-like green leaves, which may die back as flowers emerge.

• Position: Best in full sun.

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil; dislikes heavy, waterlogged conditions.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy; tolerates frost and cold winters.

• Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, wildlife gardens, cut flowers, and dried arrangements.

• Wildlife value: Flowers are nectar-rich, attracting bees, butterflies, and pollinators.

‘Party Balloons’ is perfect for adding a playful yet elegant feature to mixed plantings, where its blooms float above perennials and grasses.

Care Guide

Allium ‘Party Balloons’ is easy to grow and requires little maintenance once planted.

Planting

• When to plant: Plant bulbs in autumn (September to November) before the first frosts.

• Depth & spacing: Plant 10–15cm deep and 15–20cm apart.

• Grouping: Plant in clusters of 3–5 or more for maximum impact.

• Containers: Can be grown in large pots with free-draining compost.

Watering & Feeding

• Water well after planting.

• During spring, water only in very dry spells – alliums dislike soggy soil.

• Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to encourage strong flower production.

Aftercare

• Remove faded flowers if desired, or leave seed heads for architectural interest.

• Allow foliage to die back naturally – leaves feed the bulb for next year.

• Bulbs may be left in the ground to naturalise, multiplying over time.

• Lift and divide clumps every few years if overcrowded.

Protection

• Fully hardy; no special winter care required.

• Protect from excessive waterlogging, particularly in heavy soils.

Why Choose Allium ‘Party Balloons’?

This variety offers fun, long-lasting blooms that bring cheer to gardens just as spring bulbs fade.

• Unique blooms: Playful balloon-like flower heads in purple tones.

• Vertical interest: Tall stems add structure and height to planting schemes.

• Wildlife-friendly: Loved by bees, butterflies, and pollinators.

• Low-maintenance: Hardy, reliable, and easy to grow.

• Versatile: Great for borders, cottage gardens, containers, and cut flowers.

The Allium ‘Party Balloons’ is a joyful and eye-catching addition to any garden. Whether mass-planted in borders, mixed with perennials and grasses, or cut for fun arrangements indoors, this ornamental onion is guaranteed to make your garden feel like a celebration every summer.

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.