Nodding Pink Onion

The nodding pink onion, also known as Allium cernuum, is a beautiful and delicate flowering plant with several interesting characteristics:

Appearance:

• Flowers: Light pink to lavender or occasionally white, small, bell-shaped flowers arranged in loose, drooping umbels atop a leafless stalk.

• Foliage: Strappy, grass-like leaves that grow in a basal clump.

• Height: Typically reaches 12-24 inches tall.

• Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer.

Habitat and Distribution:

• Native to North America, found in open areas like meadows, prairies, and woodlands.

• Hardy and adaptable to different soil conditions.

• Grows in zones 3-10.

Benefits:

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

• Deer-resistant.

• Adds a whimsical touch to gardens and landscapes.

• Can be used in the kitchen like chives.

• Has historical medicinal uses among Native American tribes.

Planting:

• Can be grown from seeds or bulbs.

• Prefers full sun to part shade.

• Needs well-drained soil.

• Low maintenance and easy to care for.

Interesting Facts:

• The botanical name "cernuum" means "nodding" in Latin, referring to the drooping flower stalks.

• Native American tribes used the bulbs of nodding onion for medicinal purposes.

• Nodding onion is a long-lived perennial that can naturalize and spread over time.

• It is a valuable plant for supporting pollinators and adding biodiversity to gardens.

States where Nodding Pink Onion is considered native.
Alaska
Yukon
Washington
Oregon
Idaho
Montana
Wyoming
North Dakota
South Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
Missouri
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Ohio
Kentucky
Tennessee
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Texas
New Mexico
Arizona
Utah
Colorado
Nevada