Nothoscordum gracile
Slender false garlic
no rights reserved, uploaded by Judy · CC0
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Nothoscordum gracile (Slender false garlic) is a non-native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by South American genus naturalized in similar Mediterranean climate - lacks the sulfur compounds that give Allium species their….
Slender false garlic is a naturalized perennial found in the Central Valley, central western California, and southern California coastal regions in disturbed areas at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers with green bases and reddish midveins, approximately 8 to 14 millimeters long with oblanceolate lobes. Growing with erect stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall from a small bulb about 1.5 centimeters in size, it develops 2 to several leaves. Its leaves are long and narrow, measuring 25 to 30 centimeters in length and 4 to 10 millimeters wide. The fruit is an obovoid structure 6 to 7 millimeters long, with a persistent style.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: South American genus naturalized in similar Mediterranean climate - lacks the sulfur compounds that give Allium species their characteristic odor
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to South America
Bloom period
Nothoscordum gracile blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Allium: Crush the leaves: Nothoscordum is completely scentless, Allium always smells strongly of onion or garlic.; vs Toxicoscordion: Nothoscordum flowers have petals fused at the base forming a tube; Toxicoscordion petals are completely separate with visible glands.; vs Muilla: Nothoscordum petals fuse at the base into a short tube; Muilla petals are completely separate to the base.; vs Sparaxis: Nothoscordum has onion-like leaves arranged in a basal cluster; Sparaxis has sword-shaped iris-like leaves in a fan.; vs Ipheion: Count the flowers: Nothoscordum has several flowers per stem, Ipheion produces only one flower per stem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nothoscordum gracile native to California?
No. Nothoscordum gracile is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Nothoscordum gracile bloom?
Nothoscordum gracile blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Nothoscordum gracile belong to?
Nothoscordum gracile is in the Alliaceae family, genus Nothoscordum.
Is Nothoscordum gracile invasive in California?
Nothoscordum gracile is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Nothoscordum gracile grow in?
Nothoscordum gracile grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.