Allium burlewii
Burlew's onion
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Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium burlewii (Burlew's onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by high elevation, small size, and smooth filaments.
Burlew's onion is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, southern Coastal Range, and southwestern California in sandy and gravelly soils, including granite and serpentine landscapes at elevations of 1,800 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers with a pink or dull purple basal tinge, arranged in clusters of 8 to 20 blooms. Growing with a short stem 2 to 8 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb 15 to 25 millimeters in size. Its single leaf is widely channeled and typically as long as or twice the height of the stem. The plant has distinctive smooth filaments and an ovary with minimal or no central crests.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species - distinguished by high elevation, small size, and smooth filaments
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, gravelly soils, granite, serpentine
Elevation: 1800-2800 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Kern, Santa Barbara, San Benito, Tulare, Madera, Alpine, Fresno, Inyo, Monterey, Orange
Bloom period
Allium burlewii 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 burlewii native to California?
Yes. Allium burlewii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium burlewii bloom?
Allium burlewii blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Allium burlewii grow?
Allium burlewii occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Kern, Santa Barbara, San Benito, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 1800-2800 m.
What plant family does Allium burlewii belong to?
Allium burlewii is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium burlewii grow in?
Allium burlewii grows in Sandy, gravelly soils, granite, serpentine.
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.