Description

Key Information:

Soil: Mesic (Medium) – Xeric (Dry). Tolerates some moisture.
Sun: Full Sun – Part Sun
Height: 1-2 feet
Color: Lavender
Blooms: July – August

More Detail:

Suggested Uses: Prairie Onion is an excellent plant for prairie or shoreline restoration projects. It is also a great plant for attracting beneficial insects to your garden or landscape. The delicate light lavender to white flowers are pretty in bouquets and the bulbs and green shoots are edible. Like A. cernuum, does well in rock gardens or in sandy soils!

Native Range: U.S.: Native to the Midwest, predominantly Minnesota and North Dakota. Minnesota: Native to Central and Western Minnesota.

Pollinators:  Small bees.

Flowers: The 1/4″ flowers have 3 petals, 3 petal-like sepals, and 6 yellow stamens. They bloom in dome-like clusters.

Leaves: The grass-like leaves rise directly from the bulb. They are 6-18″ long.

Interesting Facts

Food Uses: Like A. cernuum, the whole plant is edible, but the bulb is the most useful. It can be used like any other onion – raw, cooked, pickled etc.
Name: Allium is the ancient Latin name for garlic.
Other Names: Wild Onion, Cliff Onion, Autumn Onion

More information: USDA plant profile