Allium cernuum

Description

Nodding wild onion (cernuum in Latin means nodding) features clumps of flat, narrow, grass-like leaves and tiny bell-shaped, pink to lilac pink (occasionally white) flowers in summer which appear in loose, nodding clusters atop erect, leafless scapes rising slightly above the foliage. All parts of this plant have an oniony smell when cut or bruised. Although the bulbs and leaves of this plant were once used in cooking or eaten raw, it is not generally considered to be of culinary value today. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Best in full sun, but appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Plants will naturalize by self-seeding and bulb offsets in optimum growing conditions.