Allium tribracteatum
Three-bracted onion, three-bracted onion, three-bracted onion
(c) Sam Eberhard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Allium tribracteatum (Three-bracted onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by very short stem, curved bulb coat cells, central Sierra location.
Three-bracted onion is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains in Tuolumne County on volcanic slopes at elevations of 1,300 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to purple flowers in clusters of 10 to 30 blooms, each approximately 6 to 8 millimeters long with lanceolate perianth parts. Growing with very short stems 2 to 7 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small ovoid bulb 1 to 2 centimeters in size. Its two leaves are distinctively channeled and significantly longer than the stem, measuring 1.5 to 3 times the stem's length. The plant's minute three-crested ovary and uniquely curved outer bulb coat cells make it a distinctive member of the onion genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; key features are very short stem, curved bulb coat cells, central Sierra location
Habitat and range
Habitat: Volcanic slopes
Elevation: 1300-1900(3000) m
California counties: Tuolumne, Kern, Alpine, Amador, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, El Dorado, San Benito, Placer, Calaveras, Alameda
Bloom period
Allium tribracteatum blooms Mar-May.
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 tribracteatum native to California?
Yes. Allium tribracteatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium tribracteatum bloom?
Allium tribracteatum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Allium tribracteatum grow?
Allium tribracteatum occurs in Tuolumne, Kern, Alpine, Amador, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra and other counties, at elevations of 1300-1900(3000) m.
What plant family does Allium tribracteatum belong to?
Allium tribracteatum is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium tribracteatum rare or endangered?
Allium tribracteatum 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.