Allium serra
Jeweled onion
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Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium serra (Jeweled onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by coastal ranges habitat, herringbone bulb pattern, papery fruits.
Jeweled onion is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in grassy slopes at elevations of 30 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink to rose flowers 8 to 11 millimeters long in clusters of 10 to 40 blooms. Growing with slender stems 15 to 40 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb with distinctive herringbone-patterned outer layers. Its two to three leaves are relatively short, nearly cylindrical, and approximately the same height or shorter than the flowering stem. The delicate perianth parts are lance-shaped and fold over the developing fruit, creating a papery covering.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 31 sympatric species; key features are coastal ranges habitat, herringbone bulb pattern, papery fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Grassy slopes
Elevation: 30-1200 m
California counties: San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Alameda, Lake, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Napa, Colusa, Glenn, Butte, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Yolo, Mendocino, Tehama, Merced, Humboldt, Fresno, Yuba
Bloom period
Allium serra blooms Apr-May.
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 serra native to California?
Yes. Allium serra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium serra bloom?
Allium serra blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Allium serra grow?
Allium serra occurs in San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Alameda, Lake, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Napa, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of 30-1200 m.
What plant family does Allium serra belong to?
Allium serra is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium serra grow in?
Allium serra grows in Common. Grassy slopes.
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.