The meadow onion is a perennial bulb native to coastal regions of Oregon and northern California that grows 6-18 inches tall. It produces strappy, blue-green leaves and loose clusters of fragrant, rose-pink to lavender flowers from late spring to early summer. The meadow onion is easy to grow and spreads reliably in gardens, making it a good choice for naturalizing, mixed beds, containers, or rock gardens. It provides habitat and nectar for butterflies and pollinators.

1. * Meadow Onion – Allium unifolium (AL-ee-um yoo-nee-FOH-lee-um)
Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family) [Alliaceae]
Native to: Coastal Ranges of OR and Central & N. CA to Santa Barbara Co.; usually in moist clay or
serpentine soils, on grassy streambanks and sea cliffs, often in open areas in pine forests.
Growth characteristics: perennial bulb mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft.
A nice little Western native onion that grows 6-18 inches tall and about 12 inches wide. Strappy,
blue-green leaves wither before the flowers emerge. Plant dies back to ground after blooming.
Reproduces by creating new bulbs on short rhizomes (older bulbs will die after flowering).
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring – usually April-May (but may be June) for about 3 weeks.
Flowers in loose bunches (umbels). Flowers are a lovely rose-pink to lavender-pink. A very nice
color that looks nice with other pink, blue & purple spring flowers. Flowers star-shaped, typical for
onions. Makes a very nice spring cut-flower – flowers are sweetly fragrant.
Uses in the garden: Often used as a bulb for naturalizing – will spread in the garden. Great choice
for dry mixed beds or tucked around native shrubs. Super container plant; nice addition to rock
gardens or with summer-dry ferns, grasses. All parts edible, so consider for the vegetable garden.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native ornamental onions.
Attracts: Good butterfly and flower-fly habitat (nectar source).
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun (cool gardens) to part-shade.
Soil Any well-drained soil including clays; any local pH
Water Likes to dry out after blooming, but can take a little summer water (Zone 2 or 3)
Fertilizer Fine with organic amendments, organic mulches; can take ½ strength fertilizer.
Other Inorganic, light organic or no mulch.
Management: Pretty easy bulb to grow. Reliable if allowed to dry out in summer.
Propagation: from seed: easy in fall/winter by bulbs: dig up in fall; divide & replant
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 20, 21, 48, 49 3/02/2021
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