Allium lacunosum var. kernense
Kern onion
Photo: parent species Allium lacunosum · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium lacunosum var. kernense (Kern onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by intermediate between other lacunosum varieties in flower size and pedicel length.
Kern onion is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, and western Mojave Desert regions on open sandy slopes at elevations of 700 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces flowers in dense clusters with white to pink blossoms approximately 5 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems up to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters with two distinctive bracts subtending the floral head. Its narrow, linear leaves emerge from a small underground bulb, typical of onion species. The inflorescence contains 10 to 45 individual flowers arranged in a tight, spherical cluster with pedicels 10 to 15 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; intermediate between other lacunosum varieties in flower size and pedicel length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Open sandy slopes
Elevation: 700-1300 m
Bloom period
Allium lacunosum var. kernense blooms Apr-May.
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 lacunosum var. kernense native to California?
Yes. Allium lacunosum var. kernense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium lacunosum var. kernense bloom?
Allium lacunosum var. kernense blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Allium lacunosum var. kernense belong to?
Allium lacunosum var. kernense is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium lacunosum var. kernense grow in?
Allium lacunosum var. kernense grows in Uncommon. Open sandy slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.