Allium acuminatum

Common Names

Hooker's Onion, Tapertip Onion

Summary

Allium acuminatum is a native North American bulbous herb of the Amaryllidaceae, occurring from British Columbia to California and east to Wyoming. It forms 1–12 bulbs that are not basally clustered and do not form rhizomes; bulbs are ovoid to globose (0.8–1.6 cm by 0.9–1.6 cm) with yellow-brown outer coats and white inner coats. A solitary erect scape (10–35 cm tall) bears a hemispheric, loose umbel of 10–40 flowers with pink to rose-purple or white tepals; inner tepals are denticulate and recurved, outer tepals longer and wider, and an onion odor is noticeable.

Habitat includes dry slopes and plains in open, rocky sites at low to mid elevations, with a preference for sunny, well-drained soils; drought tolerance develops after establishment; bulbs rot in cool, wet climates, so a cold frame and dry summer rest are recommended. Cultivation emphasizes full sun and well-drained rocky to dry soil; propagation is by seed, which requires cool, moist stratification for best germination, and division is easy to form clumps. Edible parts include bulbs, leaves, and flowers; historically, bulbs and leaves were eaten by Indigenous peoples; pollinators include bees and other insects; the plant is hardy to USDA zones 5–9.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-14 inches

Spread

0.5-4 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates Partial Shade and Full Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy loam soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6-8

Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Pink to purple

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast growth rate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies