Is this really Allium sphaerocephalon?

Liriodendron

I've grown these before, in my garden in Yorkshire, where they reached maybe 70cm tall, with small, neat heads, starting green and turning purple.

Last Autumn I planted 30 A.sphaerocephalon from Farmer Gracy.  They grew and grew, to maybe 1.2m.  The heads looked as I remembered, green turning purple, but not small and neat - see below...



Did they just love the conditions, or are they a different Allium?

Fairygirl

Maybe if they were on steroids @Liriodendron
They look huuuge.....

Mine are slightly bigger this year, and becoming more oddly shaped, but I think the recent heatwave we had here has contributed, and they're going to seed more rapidly, creating the elongated shape at the top of the heads. This is the only pic I have - taken about a week ago,  but they're even longer at the head now.

Nothing like the size of yours!

Silver surfer

Allium sphaerocephalon are a different shape to many ornamental alliums.
Looked at side ways they have green in them at first, and are sort of pointed/ cone shaped with small flowers.
Your pic looking down makes it look round and enormous.
See link
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=allium+sphaerocephalon&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiPt6j6tpTyAhUYQEEAHVqXBzUQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=567

Liriodendron

Thanks both.  I'll put the size down to the weather, I think...

Fairygirl

I just went out and took a pic like yours @Liriodendron


Bit smaller, and a bit more faded though.
..and that's just me 

Liriodendron

You can't be smaller than me, @Fairygirl...   

I guess it's been warmer here than where you are.  Plenty of rain though!  

Fairygirl

You can't be smaller than me, @Fairygirl...    
  

It's been weirdly hot here @Liriodendron, and very dry, as I was saying on another thread. Us pasty Scots aren't designed for sun 
I was just wondering yesterday if you'd been to your cottage recently, as I was up a hill in Kinlochleven and the 360 degree views were stunning. It would have been splendid out there just now, although normal service has resumed here with the 'smirr' most of the morning. 

I don't think my alliums get as big as that normally, but perhaps it's just a combination of heat and wet - we usually get one or the other, not both. 

Liriodendron

I'm not a Scot but I'm not designed for sun either, @Fairygirl.  The temperature range here is quite small - generally cooler in summer as well as warmer in winter, than what we experienced in UK.  We still got one day of 30C though...     ...we're grateful for the insulation on this bungalow which means it was several degrees cooler inside than out!

No, we've not been to the cottage since we left for Ireland.  We haven't been allowed to leave Ireland until very recently, and currently we're not inclined to brave public transport, although we're both double jabbed... not even so we can go to York and meet our newest grandson.  He's learned to wave to us by Zoom.     (We had a young couple staying at the cottage on a long let until the end of last month, so this is the first week it's been available for holiday makers - and it's now fully booked until mid October, which is great.  It's nice to think someone's enjoying the views...)  

Fairygirl

I was forgetting about the travel problems  - you can see how often I ever go anywhere 
That's good that someone has been looking after it and enjoying it though. 
I can understand how you feel about travelling on public transport too. Not ideal just now. A shame re your little grandson though. My sister has a new granddaughter, but it's the same scenario - her daughter is in Switzerland, so she's crossing her fingers she'll be able to get out there sometime soon.