Whilst native to moist alpine areas from western China through the Himalayas to Pakistan this beautiful species is fairly easy to grow given the right conditions. In the garden it needs a moist shaded spot. It performs well when pot grown, again avoiding hot sun.
The drumstick heads of flowers, rather like a high-class Allium, are held on 30cm tall, stiff stems. Dormant during winter its leaves appear at the same time as the flowers during early spring.
This strain was selected in Germany in 1994 and is still one of the best mauve-blue strains. Some flowers are darker than others but each is as beautiful as the last.