Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Allium amplectens is a species of wild onion known by the common name narrowleaf onion. It is native to western North America where it grows in woods and especially in clay and serpentine soils. It grows from a pinkish-brown bulb and sends up a naked green stem topped with an flower cluster. When closed the flower cluster is wrapped in bright pink to magenta leafs. It opens to produce between 10 and 50 shiny white to pale pink flowers, each under a centimeter wide. The six stout stamens and the ovary are white or tinted pink or lavender. It is a fairly widespread species.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Calscape icon
Color

White, Pink, Red

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Moderate

Soil drainage

Slow

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

4, 5, 6, 7*, 8, 9, 10, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19, 20, 21

Site type

Clay soils

Plant communities

Foothill Woodland, Yellow Pine Forest

Bats
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 17 likely

Confirmed Likely

Ipsilon Dart

Agrotis ipsilon

Rascal Dart

Agrotis malefida

The Nutmeg

Anarta trifolii