Intro: Erect, scapose perennial found in open woodlands or around outcrops of shale or mafic, ultramafic, or calcareous rocks, mostly at low elevations in the Mountains.

Stems: Stem a smooth flowering scape arising from a cluster of reddish-purple bulbs.

Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, linear and flattened, 4-15 in. long, with a whitish cast and limp appearance.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers on relatively thick stalks within a dense umbel at the "shepherd's crook" terminus of the scape, white or pink to purplish, widely bell-shaped and downward pointing, to ¼ in. long and consisting of 6 petaloid tepals.

Fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsules containing black seeds.

Comments: All parts have an onion smell and flavor; bulbils are absent. The similar Allium alleghaniense, which is more restricted in distribution and favors moderate to fairly high elevations, differs in having darker magenta-purple tepals with rounded rather than pointed tips.

Height: 12-15 in.

plant sale text: Nodding onion is found in open woodlands and rock outcrops at lower mountain elevations in much of the continental U.S. The nodding umbels of pink flowers serve to distinguish nodding onion from other members of the genus Allium. Nodding onion is useful for small border massings, rock gardens and naturalized areas. Cut back foliage and seed heads in the fall.

bloom table text:

description: Erect, scapose perennial found in open woodlands or around outcrops of shale or mafic, ultramafic, or calcareous rocks, mostly at low elevations in the Mountains.

stems: Stem a smooth flowering scape arising from a cluster of reddish-purple bulbs.

leaves: Leaves mostly basal, linear and flattened, 4-15 in. long, with a whitish cast and limp appearance.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers on relatively thick stalks within a dense umbel at the "shepherd's crook" terminus of the scape, white or pink to purplish, widely bell-shaped and downward pointing, to ¼ in. long and consisting of 6 petaloid tepals.

fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsules containing black seeds.

comments: All parts have an onion smell and flavor; bulbils are absent. The similar Allium alleghaniense, which is more restricted in distribution and favors moderate to fairly high elevations, differs in having darker magenta-purple tepals with rounded rather than pointed tips.

cultural notes:

germination code: 2

native range: North America