Allium marvinii
Yucaipa onion, Yucaipa onion, Yucaipa onion
(c) Rachel Allingham, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Allium marvinii (Yucaipa onion) is a native California perennial in the Alliaceae family, recognized by unique clustered bulbs on rhizomes and 4-6 flat leaves.
Yucaipa onion is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern California coastal, San Bernardino Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges bioregions on dry slopes and ridges at elevations of 300 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white flowers with rose-colored midveins, 6 to 8 millimeters long, arranged in clusters of 10 to 30 blooms. Growing with stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it develops clustered bulbs 2 to 3 centimeters long with reddish-brown outer coats and white, pink, or deep red inner layers. Its 4 to 6 leaves are flat and shorter than the stem, with distinctive triangular ovary crests featuring papillate margins. The plant forms small clusters on short rhizomes with finely striate bulb surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; unique clustered bulbs on rhizomes and 4-6 flat leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, ridges
Elevation: 300-1250 m
California counties: Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego
Bloom period
Allium marvinii blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 marvinii native to California?
Yes. Allium marvinii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium marvinii bloom?
Allium marvinii blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Allium marvinii grow?
Allium marvinii occurs in Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, at elevations of 300-1250 m.
What plant family does Allium marvinii belong to?
Allium marvinii is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium marvinii rare or endangered?
Allium marvinii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
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 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.