This step-by-step tutorial shares how to make giant garden art alliums—a beautiful, repurposed, decorative flower project for your outdoor space.
You can also make giant coneflowers (Echinacea) garden art with this tutorial.
Giant Allium Garden Art
Ornamental Allium | Genus: Allium
Herbaceous geophyte perennial with true bulbs
• Zones 3 to 9
• Full sun to part shade
• Same botanical genus as onions, leeks, garlic and more
- Allium Growing Guide
- Shop Online: Buy allium bulbs (US shipping)
Alliums are those giant, purple, globe-shaped flowers you notice in the spring when not much else is blooming yet. They are a member of the onion family and grow from bulbs. Bees love them as they have few nectar options so early in the growing season.
I first thought of this garden art idea years ago when I saw packages of nails all bundled in rolls in the thrift shop. The long nails with their flat heads reminded me of the hundreds of little stems in the head of an allium as they go into bloom and also when they start turning to seed. Weird, I know.
After testing out a few options, softballs turned out to be the perfect core for the flowers. They are easy to drill and nails go in very nicely. Whatever that fluffy stuff is inside, it grabs the nails snugly and hold them in place.
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There’s a free printable with this article.
Go to Resources (below) to get yours.
How to Make Garden Art Alliums
I painted my allium purple with a green stem. I really wanted a specific color of purple paint but the spray paint options at our local hardware store are really limited so I had to go with the only purple available. Hopefully you’ll be able to get the color you want.
If you love the look of dried seeds or rusty metal, you could also spray paint the whole thing in those sorts of colors.
Bottom line: your art—your choice. I’ll probably update mine if I ever come across the perfect purple.
Watch the How-to Video
Supplies
As always, I suggest you find used items for projects like this so they are cheap or free and give old junk a new life.
- (1) Softball (12′ circumference / 3.8′ diameter) Be certain it’s a softball and not hard/baseball.
- (120) 3-4” Flat-head nails.
- (1) 3-foot metal threaded rod– 1/8 diameter (could also use rebar but a slender stem looks best).
- Spray paint (purple, green, or whatever colors you choose).
- Cordless drill and 1/8” (or smaller) drill bit.
- Safety gloves, eye protection, clothes protection (the usual precautions).
- Cardboard box (for spray painting).
Steps
1Spray Paint Rod
If you want to spray paint the metal rod, do this first.
2Drill Test Holes
Make a test hole in the softball with a 1/8” or smaller drill bit.
Insert a nail and confirm that it fits snugly. You’ll push it into the softball about an inch. If you need a smaller drill bit, switch it out now.
3Drill Holes
Drill holes in softball, evenly spaced over the entire surface.
Always drill at a 90-degree angle into the ball.
4Insert Rod
Insert the painted metal rod. You may need to drill a slightly larger hole in the softball to accommodate it but don’t overdo it because you want it to fit really snugly.
Once it’s secure, don’t remove it.
5Insert Nails
Insert nails into the holes, fixing them firmly in place.
6Spray Paint Flower Head
Spray paint the allium flower head.
First, cover the stem so it does not get sprayed. I use a big cardboard box for spray painting to minimize the amount of paint that gets in the air.
After the paint dries, you’re done.
Display them in your garden for year-round allium beauty in a thrift shop-repurposed kind of way.
Ongoing Care
If your climate is like mine, you probably need to apply more spray paint each year to keep them fresh-looking.
Resources
Empress of Dirt
FREE TIP SHEET
DIY Garden Art Alliums
Includes the materials list and basic instructions from this article.
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This project is included in this ebook:
Ebook
25 Garden Art Projects & Ideas
by Melissa J. Will
Grab the top garden art DIY projects and tips from Empress of Dirt
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Happy allium-making!
If you love over-sized garden art, there are more giant garden décor ideas here.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
How to Mark Garden Art Alliums
Equipment
Supplies & Materials
Instructions
- Spray paint metal rod green (optional).1 3-foot Rod, 1 Spray Paint
- Using 1/8-inch drill bit, drill 120 holes in softball at 90-degree angle for inserting nails. Do a test hole first to be sure the hole is the right width to snugly fit a nail.1 Softball
- Insert metal rod (allium stem).
- Insert nails into holes, fixing them firmly in place.120 4-inch Flat-head Nails
- Hold allium by rod in large cardboard box and spray paint purple.1 Spray Paint, 1 Cardboard box
- Allow to dry thoroughly. Display in garden.
Sharon C. says
I am getting comfortable with the outside gardens that I have now, they are coming together nicely, (about 3 years ).
I have also been able to start planting in new areas and moving plants around to make them more happy or a fuller area of a single type.
This started several years ago when I saw your website and printed out a free tip sheet. Now thanks to you and your guidance
Love the newsletter and all its information.
Thank you again for sharing all your knowledge and experience.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Sharon,
This is so nice to hear. I am delighted to play any small part in your new life as a gardener. I hope it brings you much happiness (and some adventures).
Julie says
Do you know how to make the 2 color ones. I love how they look but can’t figure it out
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Julie,
I’m not sure if we’re thinking of the same type but if so — you can paint the nails prior to attaching them. This way, you can apply one color of paint, then cover the tops or bottoms and add a second color.
Penny says
Thanks you!! This IS one DIY garden project I can do!! Hardware store tomorrow!!!
Melissa J. Will says
Excellent! Have fun.
Barbara J Orlemanski says
Where do you get the stem for the Allium?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Barbara,
You can find rebar at any home building store like Home Depot. They also have various other metal rods that would work too.
Christine says
These were so much fun to make. I used golf balls
Julie Ward says
This seems like it would be pretty heavy with all the nails in it, is a thinner metal bar gonna hold the weight? I’ve also been reviews from people saying they rusted after a little while, do they make coated nails like they do screws to prevent them from rusting??
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Julie,
I guess you just have to decide for yourself based on the materials you use and your own aesthetics. Mine have held up fine.
As for rust, I used rust-proof spraypaint which has held up fine but I also wouldn’t mind if they rusted–it’s a favorite type of garden art for some of us — and par for the course when using metals outdoors.
Denise says
I look forward to your mail!
Melissa J. Will says
Thank you, Denise!
Laura Vogler says
I found some softballs at a thrift store for .50 each. We replaced our deck last summer so I used those. My allium are beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial. Wish I could post a picture.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Laura,
Glad you made the alliums. You’re welcome to share pictures on the Empress of Dirt Facebook page if you like. https://www.facebook.com/empressofdirt/?fref=ts
Melissa
Barbie Anderson says
I’m always into crafts, can’t wait to see this one in my flowers
Michelle says
can’t wait to try this! looks great!
Sheila Click says
Can’t wait to make these flowers out of a baseball and nails. So clever! So happy to find you website. Everything is so interesting! In these days of dismay I find the inspiring and uplifting.
Melissa J. Will says
Thank you, Sheila and welcome!
Vickie Harris says
I made these and they turned out great! No where to post a picture.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Vickie,
Yes, there is not way to post photos here but you are welcome to share it on the Empress of Dirt Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/empressofdirt/ I’d love to see it!