Allium nevadense
Nevada onion, Nevada onion, Nevada onion
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Allium nevadense (Nevada onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by unique coiled leaf tips and stalked bulblets.
Nevada onion is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the Desert Mountains in sandy or gravelly slopes at elevations of 1,300 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate white to pink flowers in small clusters with 5 to 25 blossoms, each flower 7 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb that produces 1 to 2 small bulblets at its base. Its single leaf is distinctively cylindrical and nearly twice the stem's length, with a tightly coiled tip that withers over time. The plant's bulb is characterized by intricate, transversely elongated cell patterns on its outer coating, creating a unique textural signature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; unique coiled leaf tips and stalked bulblets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly slopes
Elevation: 1300-1700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Nevada
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona
Bloom period
Allium nevadense blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 nevadense native to California?
Yes. Allium nevadense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium nevadense bloom?
Allium nevadense blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Allium nevadense grow?
Allium nevadense occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Nevada, at elevations of 1300-1700 m.
What plant family does Allium nevadense belong to?
Allium nevadense is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium nevadense rare or endangered?
Allium nevadense carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.