Wild Onion is a bulbous perennial in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). It is native to North Carolina and much of the eastern half of the United States. Wild Onions form grass-like clumps of leaves topped with rounded clusters of star-shaped pink or white flowers that bloom from late spring into summer. The plant produces a strong, onion-like odor when leaves are crushed or mowed. Wild onion is weedy in disturbed areas and can be found in meadows, thickets, fields, forests, and lawns. Wild Onion grows about 18 in. tall and can spread quite freely when well sited. Both leaves and flowers have a delicious mild flavor while the bulb is crisp and mild with a pleasant flavor that is a leek or garlic substitute, according to taste. The plant spreads by bulb offsets and aerial bulblets. Even though the plant is edible, there are better and less weedy plants to grow in the vegetable garden. Do not harvest plants in areas that herbicides have been used. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally free of pests and disease. It is considered a noxious weed in several states. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Allium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Edible; Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
6-12 inch long green basal leaves are linear, flat and semi-upright. When young, leaves are often confused with grass. Each leaf has a poorly defined keel along its midvein and smooth margins.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Dome; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Each flowering stalk terminates in an inflorescence that has a sack-like covering that splits open and withers away to reveal an umbel of 6 to 12 small 1/2inch pedicellate flowers or sessile bulblets or a combination of each. The flowers are a dome-like cluster of star-shaped pink or whitish flowers on a naked flower stalk. The bulblets are about ¼ inch long, ovoid in shape, and light green to pinkish-red. Wild Garlic is especially likely to flower or have reddish bulblets in a sunny situation.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Seed capsules contain several small dark seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Flowering stalks emerge from the ground that are about the same height as the leaves, or slightly higher. These stalks are terete (round in cross-section), rather than flat, and they are held stiffly erect.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada, Eastern and Central United States
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Wildlife value
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bulbs may be eaten by wild turkeys.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Flowers; Stems
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Use the same as domestic onions, for seasoning, or raw in salads. Bulbs can be used raw, boiled, pickled, or for seasoning. Flowers and stems are also edible. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Traditional medicinal uses include using a crushed bulb to treat insect bites and stings and using the bulb for a tea to treat cough and vomiting.
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage; Bulb Mites
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Weedy
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Deer; Drought
Propagation
Division; Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Only harvest plants with the distinct odor of onions. Can cause low toxicity in humans but has the potential to be poisionous to livestock if consumed excessively. Symptoms may include: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems)