Allium parryi
Parry's fringed onion
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium parryi (Parry's fringed onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by single leaf, white flowers turning red, 6 obvious ovary crests.
Parry's fringed onion is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges on dry slopes and flats at elevations of 900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with a reddish tinge, 6 to 9 millimeters long, in clusters of 8 to 50 individual blooms. Growing with slender stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb that has reddish-brown outer layers. Its single cylindrical leaf is shorter than the stem, with a delicate, upright growth habit. The flower's distinctive white perianth parts are lanceolate and sharply pointed, featuring six prominent ovary crests that add textural interest to the bloom.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; key features are single leaf, white flowers turning red, 6 obvious ovary crests
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, flats
Elevation: 900-2200 m
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Tulare, Sonoma, Kern
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Allium parryi blooms May-Jul.
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 parryi native to California?
Yes. Allium parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium parryi bloom?
Allium parryi blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Allium parryi grow?
Allium parryi occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Tulare, Sonoma, Kern, at elevations of 900-2200 m.
What plant family does Allium parryi belong to?
Allium parryi is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium parryi grow in?
Allium parryi grows in dry slopes, flats.
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.