Allium obtusum var. obtusum
Red sierra onion
Photo: parent species Allium obtusum · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium obtusum var. obtusum (Red sierra onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by very long leaves relative to stem and obtuse perianth parts.
Red sierra onion is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, high Cascades, northern and central Sierra Nevada Forests, and Sierra Nevada at elevations of 1,500 to 3,500 meters in granitic sand habitats. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white flowers in clusters containing 6 to 30 blooms, with perianth parts that are oblong-elliptic and obtuse. Growing with slender stems up to 25 centimeters tall, it emerges from underground bulbs. Its leaves are narrow and channeled, typically 1 to 2 in number and 1.5 to 4 times the length of the stem. The plant thrives in open, sandy mountain environments, creating delicate white floral displays among rocky, high-elevation landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; distinguished by very long leaves relative to stem and obtuse perianth parts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Granitic sands
Elevation: 1500-3500 m
California counties: Tulare, Fresno, Alpine, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Shasta, Madera, Placer, Nevada, Mariposa, Amador, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Mono, Plumas, Sierra, Butte, Tehama, Calaveras, Inyo
Outside California: southwestern Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Allium obtusum var. obtusum blooms May-Jun.
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 obtusum var. obtusum native to California?
Yes. Allium obtusum var. obtusum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium obtusum var. obtusum bloom?
Allium obtusum var. obtusum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Allium obtusum var. obtusum grow?
Allium obtusum var. obtusum occurs in Tulare, Fresno, Alpine, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Shasta, Madera, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3500 m.
What plant family does Allium obtusum var. obtusum belong to?
Allium obtusum var. obtusum is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium obtusum var. obtusum grow in?
Allium obtusum var. obtusum grows in Common. Granitic sands.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.