Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum
Franciscan onion, Franciscan Onion, Franciscan onion, Franciscan onion
Photo: parent species Allium peninsulare · (c) paulexcoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum (Franciscan onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by curved leaves and coastal low-elevation habitat.
Franciscan onion is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the central coastal and San Francisco Bay bioregions on dry hillsides at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate white to pale pink flowers in clusters with pedicels 8 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with curved, slender leaves and compact clusters, it forms small clumps typical of native onion species. Its distinctive curved leaves emerge from a small underground bulb, creating a graceful, grasslike appearance. The tiny flowers feature a minute, entire stigma characteristic of this unique onion variety.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; key features are curved leaves and coastal low-elevation habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry hillsides
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Alameda, Monterey, Solano, Napa
Bloom period
Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum blooms May-Jun.
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 peninsulare var. franciscanum native to California?
Yes. Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum bloom?
Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum grow?
Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum occurs in San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Alameda, Monterey, Solano, Napa, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum belong to?
Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum rare or endangered?
Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum 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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.