Sicilian Honey Garlic (Nectaroscordum siculum) - Nectar-Rich Flowering Bulbs for Bees & Pollinators

Sicilian Honey Garlic (Nectaroscordum siculum) is an extraordinary late-spring to early-summer flowering bulb, producing tall stems topped with clusters of elegant, bell-shaped flowers in shades of creamy green, pink and dusky purple.

The flowers hang beneath their stems like little bells before developing into distinctive upright seed heads, giving this unusual member of the allium family a wonderfully architectural appearance long after flowering has finished.

For wildlife gardeners, however, its greatest attraction is its flowers. Nectaroscordum siculum is highly attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, making it a beautiful way to add another source of nectar to sunny borders, naturalistic planting and wildlife-friendly gardens as spring moves towards summer.

Wildlife value

Sicilian Honey Garlic earns its place in our bulb collection because it combines striking ornamental value with genuinely useful flowers for pollinating insects.

The numerous bell-shaped blooms are borne together in loose clusters on tall stems and can attract a steady procession of visiting bees when in flower.

It is not native to Britain, so we regard it as supplementary forage rather than a replacement for native wildflowers. Planted amongst native and wildlife-friendly perennials, however, it can help extend the succession of nectar-rich flowers available through the garden.

This reflects the way we approach wildlife planting: native where ecological relationships matter most; carefully chosen ornamentals where they genuinely provide useful additional forage.

Planting & care

Position: Full sun or partial shade.

Soil: Grow in fertile, reasonably well-drained soil. Avoid sites that remain heavily waterlogged for prolonged periods, particularly while the bulbs are dormant.

Planting depth: Plant bulbs approximately 10-15cm deep.

Spacing: Approximately 10-15cm apart. For the most natural effect, plant in loose groups or drifts rather than straight lines.

Height: Approximately 70-90cm, depending on growing conditions.

Flowering period: Usually May to June.

Aftercare: Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering so that energy can return to the bulb for the following year's growth.

Once established in a suitable position, Sicilian Honey Garlic can return year after year and may gradually naturalise.

From bells to seed heads

One of the joys of Nectaroscordum siculum is that its display doesn't simply finish when the flowers fade.

As the flowers go over, their stems turn upwards to produce unusual sculptural seed heads. These can be left standing rather than immediately cut back, adding structure and interest to naturalistic planting.

Its height also makes Sicilian Honey Garlic particularly useful for threading through other plants, allowing the flowering stems to rise above lower-growing perennials rather than occupying a large area of bare ground on their own.

SAFETY NOTE

Nectaroscordum siculum is an ornamental bulb and should not be eaten. Keep bulbs and plant material away from children and pets likely to ingest them, and wash hands after handling.

Why Wild Your Garden?

We carefully select bulbs that earn their place in a wildlife-friendly garden — prioritising native and naturalised species where ecological relationships matter most, alongside carefully chosen ornamentals that provide useful additional forage.

Orders are hand-picked for quality and packed in paper wherever suitable, with breathable net packaging used where necessary to keep bulbs in the best possible condition.

We work with specialist bulb growers and suppliers, including long-established local growers.