Wild Onion Allium canadense
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wild Onion:
- Phonetic Spelling
- AL-ee-um ka-na-DEN-see
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Wild Onion is a bulbous perennial that is native to North Carolina and much of the United States. Wild Onions form grass-like clumps of leaves topped with rounded clusters of star-shaped pink or white flowers that bloom from late spring into summer. The plant produces a strong, onion-like odor when leaves are crushed or mowed. Wild onion is weedy in disturbed areas and can be found in meadows, thickets, fields, forests, and lawns.
Wild Onion grows about 18 in. tall and can spread quite freely when well sited. Both leaves and flowers have a delicious mild flavor while the bulb is crisp and mild with a pleasant flavor that is a leek or garlic substitute, according to taste. The plant spreads by bulb offsets and aerial bulblets.
Even though the plant is edible, there are better and less weedy plants to grow in the vegetable garden. Do not harvest plants in areas that herbicides have been used.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally free of pests and disease. It is considered a noxious weed in several states.
VIDEO
Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Allium
- Species:
- canadense
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Traditional medicinal uses include using a crushed bulb to treat insect bites and stings and using the bulb for a tea to treat cough and vomiting.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, Eastern and Central United States
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bulbs may be eaten by wild turkeys.
- Edibility:
- Use the same as domestic onions, for seasoning, or raw in salads. Bulbs can be used raw, boiled, pickled, or for seasoning. Flowers and stems are also edible. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Cool Season Vegetable
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seed capsules contain several small dark seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Each flowering stalk terminates in an inflorescence that has a sack-like covering that splits open and withers away to reveal an umbel of 6 to 12 small 1/2inch pedicellate flowers or sessile bulblets or a combination of each. The flowers are a dome-like cluster of star-shaped pink or whitish flowers on a naked flower stalk. The bulblets are about ΒΌ inch long, ovoid in shape, and light green to pinkish-red. Wild Garlic is especially likely to flower or have reddish bulblets in a sunny situation.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 6-12 inch long green basal leaves are linear, flat and semi-upright. When young, leaves are often confused with grass. Each leaf has a poorly defined keel along its midvein and smooth margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Flowering stalks emerge from the ground that are about the same height as the leaves, or slightly higher. These stalks are terete (round in cross-section), rather than flat, and they are held stiffly erect.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Only harvest plants with the distinct odor of onions. Can cause low toxicity in humans but has the potential to be poisionous to livestock if consumed excessively. Symptoms may include: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems)
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Sulfides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
