Allium incomptum
Minnesota mountain onion
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Allium incomptum (Minnesota mountain onion) is a native California perennial in the Alliaceae family, recognized by distinctive asynchronous flowering pattern with 17-55 flowers.
Minnesota mountain onion is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in mountain ridgetops in conifer forest and chaparral at elevations of 1,180 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces whitish to pale pink flowers with greenish midveins, with 17 to 55 flowers opening asynchronously in an umbel. Growing with very short stems 3 to 8 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb 15 to 28 millimeters in size. Its two leaves are distinctively broad and flat, measuring 1 to 7 millimeters wide and significantly taller than the plant's stem. The flower's stamens extend 1 to 4 millimeters beyond the narrow lanceolate perianth parts, creating a delicate and distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated; distinctive asynchronous flowering pattern with 17-55 flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky, gravelly, mountain ridgetops in conifer forest and chaparral
Elevation: 1180-1300 m
Bloom period
Allium incomptum blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 incomptum native to California?
Yes. Allium incomptum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium incomptum bloom?
Allium incomptum blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Allium incomptum belong to?
Allium incomptum is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium incomptum rare or endangered?
Allium incomptum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S1.
What habitat does Allium incomptum grow in?
Allium incomptum grows in Open, rocky, gravelly, mountain ridgetops in conifer forest and chaparral.
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 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.