Allium atropurpureum is a plant species native to Hungary, the Balkans, and Turkey.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families It is widely grown as an ornamental for its rich, deep purple flowers.Visiani, Roberto de. 1842. Flora Dalmatica 1: 136.Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.
Description Allium atropurpureum grows from a spherical to egg-shaped bulb. Its scape is up to tall. The green, leaves are broadly linear, up to 7 mm across, tapering at the tip. It blooms in late spring and early summer, the umbel is hemispherical, with many dark purple flowers. Ovary is very dark purple, almost black.Waldstein, Franz de Paula Adam von & Pál Kitaibel. 1800. Descriptiones et icones plantarum rariorum Hungariae 1: 16. It has a strong onion or garlic scent.
Taxonomy It was published and described by Franz de Paula Adam von Waldstein and Pál Kitaibel in 'Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung.' Vol.1 on page 16, in 1800.
The specific epithet atropurpureum, refers to the Latin term of 'deep purple, blackish-purple',Allen J. Coombes referring to the flower colour.
The species formerly included; Allium atropurpureum var. hirtulum Regel, which was coined in 1875,Regel, Eduard August von 1875. Trudy Imperatorskago S.-Peterburgskago Botaničeskago Sada 3(2): 248 in German, referring to a Central Asian plant, now known as Allium stipitatum Regel.
Distribution and habitat It is native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia.
Range It is found in Asia, within Turkey; in Europe, it is found within Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania.
Habitat It prefers to grow on cultivated ground and in dry open spaces.
Cultivars A popular bulb sold by many nurseries is Allium 'Firmament', which was developed by breeder J. Bijl in 1971 from a cross between Allium atropurpureum and Allium cristophii.
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