Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Allium howellii is a species of wild onion known by the common name Howell's onion. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the granite and serpentine soils of several of the local mountain ranges, hills, and valleys. This is a tall onion plant, producing a stem which may exceed half a meter in height from a reddish-brown bulb one to two centimeters long. There is a single cylindrical leaf about as long as the stem. The flower cluster holds up to 100 dark-veined lavender to white flowers, each under a centimeter long.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Lavender, White, Pink

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Site type

granitic soils

Plant communities

Foothill Woodland, Valley Grassland

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 14 likely

Confirmed Likely

Ipsilon Dart

Agrotis ipsilon

The Nutmeg

Anarta trifolii

Alfalfa Looper Moth

Autographa californica