Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum

Franciscan onion, Franciscan Onion, Franciscan onion, Franciscan onion

Family: Alliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

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.

Habitat: dry hillsides

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: < 300 m

Bioregions: CCo, SnFrB.

California counties: San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Alameda, Monterey, Solano, Napa

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