Allium anceps
Twin leaved onion
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium anceps (Twin leaved onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by 2 flat sickle-shaped leaves 2x stem length.
Twin leaved onion is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Modoc Plateau, and Sierra Nevada eastern regions, particularly in the Masonic Hills, growing on barren clay and rocky slopes at elevations of 1,200 to 1,550 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink flowers in clusters of 15 to 35 blooms, with delicate lance-linear perianth parts. Growing with slender stems 10 to 15 centimeters tall, it develops an ovoid bulb 15 to 20 millimeters wide with a distinctive brown to yellow-brown outer coating. Its most distinctive feature is two flat, sickle-shaped leaves that grow twice the length of the stem, creating an elegant and sparse architectural form. The plant's ovary features six minute central crests, adding to its subtle botanical complexity.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species - distinguished by 2 flat sickle-shaped leaves 2x stem length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Barren clay, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1200-1550 m
California counties: Mono, Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Shasta, Nevada, San Bernardino
Outside California: southern Oregon, southwestern Idaho, western Nevada
Bloom period
Allium anceps blooms Apr-May.
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 anceps native to California?
Yes. Allium anceps is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium anceps bloom?
Allium anceps blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Allium anceps grow?
Allium anceps occurs in Mono, Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Shasta, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1200-1550 m.
What plant family does Allium anceps belong to?
Allium anceps is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium anceps grow in?
Allium anceps grows in Barren clay, rocky slopes.
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.