Nodding onion is a North American native perennial bulb in the onion family (Amaryllidaceae) that is found in open woodlands and around shale outcrops in the low elevation mountains. This plant grows 1 to 2 feet tall with long grass-like foliage. The genus name comes from Latin meaning garlic and the species name means nodding. Nodding onion prefers well-drained, humus-rich, alkaline or neutral soil in full sun. It is drought-tolerant once established and easy to grow. Nodding clusters of bell-shaped, pink or white flowers bloom in June to August and are attractive to pollinators and songbirds. It will spread by both bulb offsets and seeds but is easiest to propagate by dividing the bulblets. All parts of the plant have an oniony smell. It was once used in cooking but it is mainly used for its flowers now. It can be used in rock, culinary, cottage, butterfly, native or pollinator gardens. It may be mass planted or used in small groups within borders. It will also naturalize in a meadow or open woodland setting. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," 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
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Linear basal flat green leaves are up to 12 inches long and erect to arching. Margins are smooth, venation is parallel.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pink, lavender or white bell-shaped fragrant flowers bloom from June to August in 1.5 to 2-inch clusters. Individual flowers are 1/4 inch wide with 6 tepals and yellow stamens.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Spherical crested fruits that split open to expel shiny black seeds. Fruit displays from August to October.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Light green to reddish-green smooth round stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AL , AR , AZ , CO , DC , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , NE , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OR , PA , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , WA , WI , WV , WY
Wildlife value
Pollinators and songbirds are attracted to the plant.