nature of your neighborhood logo

Nodding onion

Soft, grass-like leaves and a 1-2 ft., leafless flowering stalk rise from a bulb. The stem bends so that the pink flowers, borne in a cluster at the top, nod toward the ground. An umbel of many pink or white flowers at the tip of a long, erect, leafless stalk, bent like a shepherd’s crook; a basal cluster of several long, narrow leaves. All parts of the perennial have a mild, oniony scent. Description from wildflower.org

Home  >  Plant Guide  >  

Nodding onion

Nodding onion fast facts

Scientific Name

Allium cernuum

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Garden Type

Container Appropriate, Anywhere

Wildlife

Butterflies

Native Plant Region

Western WA, PNW, North America

Light needs

Filtered, Full Shade

Water Needs

Medium

Plant Type

Bulbs & Tubers, Flowering, Perennial

Bloom Color(s)

Pink

Height

0 – 2 feet

Width

1 – 2 feet

Months in Bloom

April, May, June

Safe Beneath Power Lines?

Yes

Have feedback on this plant listing?

We’d like to maintain accurate and robust plant listings. If you see information that is not correct or that could be added to improve the listing, please let us know. Or if you’d like to suggest a plant to add to our plant guide, you can use this form do so. Thank you!

Start Nurturing Your Neighborhood Today

seedlings
Community

Capitol Hill Seed Library

Gardeners can check out seeds for free from the library to plant. Then after harvest, gardeners bring seeds back to the library for others to enjoy in future growing seasons.

READ MORE
humming bird at feeder in seattle
Biodiversity

7 Ways to Protect Wildlife in the City

The urban environment presents dangers to wildlife that they are not always adapted to overcome. Reducing urban hazards is an essential part of enhancing habitat in cities. After all, we do not want to lure wildlife into our neighborhoods only to have them fatally collide with our windows.

READ MORE
Community

Get Gardening!

Start a garden in a planting strip along the street. Explore our interactive corridor map, find what to grow, and start nurturing today.

READ MORE