This document summarizes information about the early onion (Allium praecox), a perennial bulb native to coastal southern California and Baja California. It has grass-like leaves in the spring and pink or pink-purple flowers in loose clusters in March through April. The early onion grows well in partial shade and clay soils, and requires some summer water once flowering. It is an excellent pollinator plant and can be used in gardens as a low-maintenance groundcover or massed planting.

1. Early onion – Allium praecox (AL-ee-um PREE-cox)
Family: Alliaceae (Onion Family) (also placed in Lilliaceae and Amaryllidaceae)
Native to: Coastal hills/mountains of S. CA and Baja California, including the Channel Islands; clay
soil on shaded, grassy slopes, mostly in Chaparral, S. Oak Woodland.
Growth characteristics: perennial bulb mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2+ ft.
Herbaceous perennial from a true bulb. Two to three leaves, linear and grass-like, appear in
winter/spring and wither with the dry season. Leaves have odor of onions when crushed. Bulbs
small, with gray-brown coat. Offset bulbs not clustered around parent bulb.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring – usually Mar-Apr but may be earlier. Flowers in a loose cluster of
up to 40 flowers (typical for onions). Flowers are pink or pink-purple tinged. The flowers are well
above the leaves and quite attractive. Attracts a wide range of interesting native pollinators.
Uses in the garden: Most effective featured in foreground, along walkways or in containers.
Welcome addition to prairie plantings, with native grasses, annual wildflowers. Tuck in around
drought tolerant shrubs and perennials; or mass under trees for a woodsy look. Even grow in
summer-dry, shady areas of the edibles garden.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Alliums and other small non-native spring bulbs.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade to shade; needs at least afternoon shade.
Soil Heavy clays are best, but can be grown in most; any local pH
Water Needs moist ground until it flowers; more tolerant of summer water that other
native bulbs. Water Zone 2 works well.
Fertilizer ½ strength in spring for container-grown.
Other Light mulches fine.
Management: May be difficult to get established. Will reseed on bare ground if happy.
Propagation: from seed: probably easy by divisions: dig & replant some bulbs every 2-3 years
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 10, 16 5/2/16
© Project SOUND