Allium acuminatum
Taper tipped onion
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium acuminatum (Taper tipped onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by flower posture and inner petal dentate margins.
Taper tipped onion is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, northeastern San Francisco Bay area at Mount Diablo, and the North Coast Ranges in hills and plains at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to rose-purple flowers in clusters of 10 to 40 blooms, with delicate lanceolate perianth parts that have reflexed or spreading tips. Growing with slender stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid to nearly spherical bulb with a distinctive yellow-brown outer coating featuring square or polygonal cells with thick walls. Its two to three leaves are roughly cylindrical and approximately equal in length to the stem. The plant's compact inflorescence features flowers with three subtle ovary crests, giving it a delicate and graceful appearance in its native grassland habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species - distinguished by flower posture and inner petal dentate margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Hills, plains
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Shasta, Humboldt, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Trinity, Glenn, Butte, Mariposa
Outside California: to British Columbia, Rocky Mountains, New Mexico
Bloom period
Allium acuminatum blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Allium smells like onion when crushed; triplet lily has no smell.; vs Agapanthus: Allium smells like onion; lily-of-the-Nile has no smell and much larger flowers.; vs Dipterostemon: Allium smells like onion when crushed; ookow has no onion smell.; vs Nothoscordum: Allium smells like onion when crushed; false garlic has no smell.; vs Tulbaghia: Allium has flowers in tight umbels; society garlic has flowers in loose open clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allium acuminatum native to California?
Yes. Allium acuminatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium acuminatum bloom?
Allium acuminatum blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Allium acuminatum grow?
Allium acuminatum occurs in Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Shasta, Humboldt, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Allium acuminatum belong to?
Allium acuminatum is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium acuminatum grow in?
Allium acuminatum grows in Hills, plains.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.