Alliaceae: Onion Family
Sierra Onion – Allium campanulatum
Blooms:
Mar–Oct
Plant Height:
16–30 cm
Flower Size:
Small
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Dry mountain slopes above 600 m
Notes:
A comparatively small plant with leaves generally withered by flowering. Striking rose to purple flowers with a darker purple crescent at the base of each petal.
Crinkled Onion – Allium crispum
Blooms:
Mar–May
Plant Height:
15–35 cm
Flower Size:
Medium
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Heavy soil on inland hills
Notes:
Distinguished by the toothed, curled (“crisped”) margins of the inner petals. The deep rose-purple flowers are in open umbels. 2 or 3 leaves, shorter than the stem.
Hickman’s Onion – Allium hickmanii
Blooms:
Mar–May
Plant Height:
5–17 cm
Flower Size:
Medium
Origin:
Native
Rare or endangered
Rare – 1b.2
Habitat:
Moist grassland near coast
Notes:
Generally much smaller than its reported maximum height of 17 cm and challenging to spot in long grass, Petals are white to pink, more or less equal in size. 1 or 2 narrow leaves, often longer than the stem.
Three-cornered Onion – Allium triquetrum
Blooms:
Mar–Apr
Plant Height:
10–40 cm
Flower Size:
Small
Origin:
Europe
Habitat:
Woodland, moist places
Notes:
Very common garden escape. Distinguished by its pure white flowers with a dark green stripe in the center of each petal and sharply triangular stem.
One-leaved Onion – Allium unifolium
Blooms:
May–June
Plant Height:
10–80 cm
Flower Size:
Medium
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Moist places
Notes:
Despite its name, this onion has 2–3 leaves which are shorter than the stem. The inflorescence has 14–35 flowers, pink or white. 11–15 mm long with 6 ovary crests in 3 pairs, separated by a longitudinal ridge.
