Allium textile (White Wild Onion)
| Also known as: | Textile Onion |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Allium |
| Family: | Alliaceae (Onion) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; dry sandy or rocky soil; prairies, roadsides |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 4 to 10 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/allium-textile-8793-2.jpg)
1-inch round cluster at the top of a naked stem, made up of 15 to 30 stalked white flowers with 6 tepals (petals) and 6 creamy-tipped stamens. Flowers are urn to bell shaped, about ¼ inch long, usually white, rarely pink, with a distinct purplish midrib down the center of each tepal. At the base of the cluster are 3 bracts, usually with a single vein.
Leaves and stems:
A plant has 1 or 2 flat grass-like leaves, each about 1/16 inch wide and as long as the flowering stalk, alternately attached near the base, sheathing the stem, and may appear to be basal. Stems are smooth and green. Underground are 1 to 3 gray or brown bulbs covered in a fine mesh of fibers.
Notes:
White Wild Onion is a shorter plant than most other Allium species found in Minnesota, and most other prairie Allium species more consistently have pink flowers. A western species, Minnesota is on the eastern edge of its range and it's found primarily in dry prairies in counties near the Dakota border. All Allium species were formerly in the Liliaceae (Lily) family, but are now in Alliaceae (Onion).
Native Plant Nurseries, Restoration and Landscaping Services ↓
Map of native plant resources in the upper midwest
More photos
White Wild Onion plant
more flowersPhotos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in North and South Dakota.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2020-05-28 14:35:45
I have this in my yard and parkland near me, it was planted as part of a native wild flower garden and it has taken over. It is so happy here.
on: 2020-05-28 14:39:11
Kate, I have 2 or 3 Allium species in the garden. They are all very happy here, too, and seem to multiply like rabbits. :-)
on: 2021-09-11 18:57:38
I had commented previously that I had this one, but they are too tall. I think they are Chinese chives now. We have areas of dense monoculture and the plants are over 24 inches. I see many plants in the gardens in my neighborhood. I harvest the seeds while they are still green and the flowers blooming to stop the spread.