Allium tuolumnense
Rawhide hill onion, Rawhide Hill Onion, Rawhide Hill onion, Rawhide Hill onion
(c) John Game, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Allium tuolumnense (Rawhide hill onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by serpentine habitat, single leaf, deeply cut ovary crests.
Rawhide hill onion is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada foothills in southwestern Tuolumne County on serpentine slopes at elevations of 300 to 600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to pink flowers in clusters of 20 to 60 blooms, each flower 6 to 8 millimeters long with delicate ascending perianth parts. Growing with a stout stem 25 to 50 centimeters tall, it emerges from a distinctive ovoid bulb with red-brown outer coats. Its single leaf is cylindrical and approximately equal in length to the stem, providing a clean, architectural growth habit. The plant's ovary features six obvious, deeply cut crests, adding to its unique botanical character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; key features are serpentine habitat, single leaf, deeply cut ovary crests
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine slopes
Elevation: 300-600 m
California counties: Tuolumne
Bloom period
Allium tuolumnense 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 tuolumnense native to California?
Yes. Allium tuolumnense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium tuolumnense bloom?
Allium tuolumnense blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Allium tuolumnense grow?
Allium tuolumnense occurs in Tuolumne, at elevations of 300-600 m.
What plant family does Allium tuolumnense belong to?
Allium tuolumnense is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
Is Allium tuolumnense rare or endangered?
Allium tuolumnense 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.