Allium cernuum (nodding onion)

Nodding onion is a perennial wild onion and a beautiful native wildflower that grows from a bulb. This small flowering plant has narrow, grass-like leaves and tiny bell-shaped, pink to lilac flowers that appear in loose, nodding clusters above foliage. Plants typically grow 12–18” tall. Blooms in summer. All parts of this plant have an oniony smell when cut or bruised. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Best flowering in full sun, but appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Plants will naturalize by self-seeding and bulb offsets in optimum growing conditions. Deadhead flowers before seed sets to help control any unwanted spread. Foliage persists past flowering into late summer before dying back.

Nodding onion is widely distributed across the United States, but it is not found everywhere. It can be found in deciduous woodlands and open grasslands. Deer will graze the early spring growth. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies including the hairstreak butterfly. Also attracts large numbers of native bees. 

BONAP Native Range Map (bright green indicates county native, dark green indicates state native)  

Photo by Kellen McCluskey

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