Allium crispum
Crinkled onion
(c) Timothy Slattery, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium crispum (Crinkled onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by dentate, curled inner perianth margins.
Crinkled onion is a California native perennial found in southern San Joaquin Valley and central western California on clay slopes, including serpentine areas at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces rose-purple flowers with distinctive spreading tips and delicate curled margins, arranged in clusters of 10 to 40 blooms. Growing with slender stems 15 to 35 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb with a unique herringbone-patterned outer coating. Its two to three leaves are narrow and cylindrical, shorter than the flowering stem. The plant features intricate flower structures with perianth parts that have delicate dentate inner margins, creating an elegant and subtle botanical display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species - distinguished by dentate, curled inner perianth margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clay slopes including serpentine
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Kern, Fresno, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Alameda, Merced, San Joaquin, Kings, Nevada, Tehama, Butte
Bloom period
Allium crispum blooms Mar-Jun.
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 crispum native to California?
Yes. Allium crispum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium crispum bloom?
Allium crispum blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Allium crispum grow?
Allium crispum occurs in Kern, Fresno, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa and other counties, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Allium crispum belong to?
Allium crispum is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium crispum grow in?
Allium crispum grows in Clay slopes including 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.