[Onions: The Genus Allium East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Synonyms: Allium allegheniense, Allium cernuum var. cernuum, Allium oxyphilum, Allium recurvatum

Nodding onion with its nodding umbel of pink flowers and long, thin basal leaves can be found on dry, rocky slopes in the western Columbia River Gorge. Photographed atop Angels Rest...........July 5, 2009.

Photo at right of nodding onion from atop Hamilton Mt, Columbia River Gorge.........June 1988.

Characteristics:

Nodding onion is a pretty wildflower which is of interest for the rock garden. Its single stem arises from an elongated bulb. It has several leaves which arise from the bulb.

The inflorescence is a small umbel of a few to many flowers. The flowers turn downward, or nod, hence the name of the plant. The flower parts number six, and the tepals are pink or white in color.

Habitat:

Nodding onion is found in moist, meadow soils of mountainous areas.

Range:

It's range is widespread. In the Pacific Northwest, it may be found from British Columbia, south through eastern Washington to the Columbia River, where it is found westward to the coast. It may be found south through the west side of the Cascades to Lane County, OR. It is also found along the Oregon coast to Lincoln County.

The photo at left shows a close-up of the ovary of nodding onion which is crested with 6 thin, flattened, entire to toothed processes. The photo at right shows a close-up of a pendant flower of nodding onion. Photographed atop Angels Rest in the western Columbia River Gorge.........July 5, 2009.

Nodding Onion: Allium cernuum (Synonyms: Allium allegheniense, Allium cernuum var. cernuum, Allium oxyphilum, Allium recurvatum)

Nodding onion photographed atop Angels Rest in the Columbia River Gorge.....June 24, 1990.

Paul Slichter