Allium jepsonii

Jepson's onion, Jepson's onion, Jepson's onion

Family: Alliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Jepson's onion is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills in Butte, El Dorado, Placer, and Tuolumne counties, growing on open serpentine or volcanic slopes at elevations of 300 to 600 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with deep pink midveins, arranged in clusters of 20 to 60 blossoms, each approximately 7 to 8.5 millimeters long with delicate jagged perianth parts. Growing with a single cylindric leaf equal to its 25 to 40 centimeters tall stem, it emerges from an ovoid bulb 15 to 25 millimeters in size. Its distinctive white flower petals have reflexed tips and are subtly marked by deep pink midveins, creating an elegant visual contrast. The plant's ovary features six obvious, slightly jagged crests, adding to its unique botanical character.

Habitat: Open, serpentine or volcanic slopes, flats

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 300-600 m

Bioregions: n&ampc SNF (Butte, El Dorado, Placer, Tuolumne cos.).

California counties: Tuolumne, Butte, Placer, El Dorado

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