A charming and adaptable ornamental onion native to the coastal ranges and foothills of California and southwestern Oregon, Allium unifolium brings a fresh, refined presence to the late spring rock garden. It grows from a small bulb, producing a single (sometimes two) broad, strap-like leaf and a sturdy, upright stem topped by a rounded, airy umbel of soft lilac-pink, starry flowers. Blooming in May to June, the flowers attract pollinators and can persist for weeks, often followed by attractive seedheads.
This species thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and it is especially well-suited to rock gardens, troughs, and dry borders where summer dryness mimics its native Mediterranean climate. It tolerates a range of soil types but prefers gritty or sandy loam. Once established, it is remarkably drought-tolerant and naturalizes gently without becoming weedy.
Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (to about -10°F / -23°C), Allium unifolium is a resilient, deer-resistant bulb that adds soft color and architectural structure to dryland plantings, gravel gardens, or sunny slopes. It can also be grown easily in containers, where it benefits from a dry summer dormancy.
A charming and adaptable ornamental onion native to the coastal ranges and foothills of California and southwestern Oregon, Allium unifolium brings a fresh, refined presence to the late spring rock garden. It grows from a small bulb, producing a single (sometimes two) broad, strap-like leaf and a sturdy, upright stem topped by a rounded, airy umbel of soft lilac-pink, starry flowers. Blooming in May to June, the flowers attract pollinators and can persist for weeks, often followed by attractive seedheads.
This species thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and it is especially well-suited to rock gardens, troughs, and dry borders where summer dryness mimics its native Mediterranean climate. It tolerates a range of soil types but prefers gritty or sandy loam. Once established, it is remarkably drought-tolerant and naturalizes gently without becoming weedy.
Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (to about -10°F / -23°C), Allium unifolium is a resilient, deer-resistant bulb that adds soft color and architectural structure to dryland plantings, gravel gardens, or sunny slopes. It can also be grown easily in containers, where it benefits from a dry summer dormancy.
