Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)
Nodding Onion are an extremely elegant native bulb. They have extremely showy pink, drooping flowers that are very attractive to bees. Their foliage tends remains after the flowers have faded until around late Summer when they finally go dormant. They are a true onion and are edible by humans though they are described as having a stronger onion flavor than your typical garden onion. The leaves also can be used similar to chives or green onions. Their strong onion flavor makes them unappealing to most animals, so they are a great addition to gardens with high deer pressure! It's also the host plant for Hairstreak Butterflies.
Nodding Onions are great additions for many locations in the garden such as rock gardens, fencelines, road sides and tucked in between other garden perennials! They are very drought tolerant once established. When happy they will spread in to little colonies via bulb reproduction and self sowing. They are very easy to divide and transplant to different parts of the yard.
Each packet contains 50 seeds and germination instructions are included.
Nodding Onion at a glance
- Average growth dimensions - 6-12 inches tall x 12-18 inches wide
- Dormancy - Summer dormancy when in extreme drought
- Plant type - Perennial herb & native bulb
- Sun - Full sun - part shade
- Water - Moist - dry
- Flowering time - May - July
- Flower color - Whitish pink - pink
- Soil preference - Rocky, well draining