Allium obtusum var. conspicuum

Showy red sierra onion

Family: Alliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Showy red sierra onion is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada in granitic sand habitats at elevations of 800 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pink flowers in clusters containing 10 to 60 blooms with lanceolate, acute perianth parts. Growing with slender stems up to 25 centimeters tall, it emerges from underground bulbs with distinctive growth characteristics. Its single leaf is widely channeled and measures 1 to 2.5 times the length of the stem, providing a unique structural profile. The compact, clustered inflorescence creates an elegant display of delicate pink blossoms against the rocky, sandy landscape.

Habitat: Uncommon. Granitic sands

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: 800-3000 m

Bioregions: n&ampc SN.

California counties: Fresno, Amador, Calaveras, Nevada, Butte, Colusa, Madera, Alpine

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