Allium howellii

Howell's onion

Family: Alliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Howell's onion is a California native perennial found in grasslands and open woodlands at moderate elevations. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate white to pale lavender flowers in dense clusters of 10 to 100 blooms. Growing with slender stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb with red-brown outer layers. Its single narrow, cylindric leaf extends approximately three-quarters the length of the stem, providing a distinctive vertical accent. The flower's perianth parts are ovate with six prominent, irregularly dentate crests that add intricate texture to the bloom.

California counties: Kern, San Benito, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Merced, Fresno, San Joaquin, Ventura, Butte

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.