Allium hoffmanii
Beegum onion, Beegum onion, Beegum onion
(c) Asher Budnik, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Allium hoffmanii (Beegum onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by warty stamens and single wide leaf.
Beegum onion is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native perennial found in southern Klamath Ranges and northern North Coast Ranges Highlands in serpentine outcrops at elevations of 1,100 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces pink to purple flowers in clusters of 10 to 40 blooms, with distinctive lance-linear perianth parts and prominent green midveins. Growing with short stems 5 to 10 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb 15 to 25 millimeters in size. Its single leaf is widely channeled and grows one to two times the length of the stem. The flower's stamens are uniquely bumpy or warty near the base, creating an intriguing textural detail.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; key features are warty stamens and single wide leaf
Habitat and range
Habitat: Locally common. Serpentine outcrops
Elevation: 1100-1800 m
California counties: Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Siskiyou
Bloom period
Allium hoffmanii blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 hoffmanii native to California?
Yes. Allium hoffmanii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium hoffmanii bloom?
Allium hoffmanii blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Allium hoffmanii grow?
Allium hoffmanii occurs in Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Siskiyou, at elevations of 1100-1800 m.
What plant family does Allium hoffmanii belong to?
Allium hoffmanii is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium hoffmanii rare or endangered?
Allium hoffmanii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.