Allium howellii var. howellii
Howell's onion, Howell's onion, Howell's onion
Photo: parent species Allium howellii · (c) paulexcoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Allium howellii var. howellii (Howell's onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by slender stature, small pink flower clusters, and purple ovary crests.
Howell's onion is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi Mountains, San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and western Transverse Ranges on grassy slopes, including serpentine landscapes at elevations of 200 to 900 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces pink to lavender flowers with white variants, arranged in clusters of 10 to 30 blooms with purple ovary crests. Growing with slender stems 20 to 35 centimeters tall, it emerges from underground bulbs with delicate, grass-like appearance. Its narrow leaves are typical of the onion family, emerging from the base in a linear, upright form. The flowers feature stamens that extend slightly beyond the perianth, creating a delicate and distinctive silhouette against grassy habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 33 sympatric species; distinguished by slender stature, small pink flower clusters, and purple ovary crests
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Grassy slopes, including serpentine
Elevation: 200-900 m
California counties: San Benito, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings, Santa Clara, Tulare, Merced, Ventura
Bloom period
Allium howellii var. howellii blooms Mar-Apr.
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 howellii var. howellii native to California?
Yes. Allium howellii var. howellii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium howellii var. howellii bloom?
Allium howellii var. howellii blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Allium howellii var. howellii grow?
Allium howellii var. howellii occurs in San Benito, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings, Santa Clara, Tulare, Merced and other counties, at elevations of 200-900 m.
What plant family does Allium howellii var. howellii belong to?
Allium howellii var. howellii is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium howellii var. howellii rare or endangered?
Allium howellii var. howellii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.