About
Allium amplectens, the narrowleaf onion, is a wild onion of the Pacific coast of North America that favours clay and serpentine soils.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Allium species are toxic to cats and dogs; eating large amounts can cause hemolytic anemia, and cats are most sensitive. General guidance for the genus
- People
- Low toxicity; eating large quantities may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. General guidance for the genus
- Light
- Full sun to light shade. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Avoid overly damp ground; wet conditions invite bulb rot and other fungal problems. General guidance for the genus
- Soil
- Tolerates heavy clay and serpentine soils in the wild; good drainage still matters.
- Propagation
- Divide bulb offsets in spring; seed is slower and may take years to germinate. General guidance for the genus
- Mature size
- Up to 50 cm tall and wide.
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
A herbaceous perennial up to 50 cm tall and wide, growing from a pinkish-brown bulb. A leafless stem ends in bright pink or magenta bracts that open to 10–50 glossy white or pale pink flowers, each under 1 cm across.
Distribution & habitat
Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia, in woodland, especially on clay and serpentine soils.
Cultivation notes
Grown in gardens; the cultivar 'Graceful' is available.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- United States, Canada
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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