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Prairie Onion

Allium stellatum

Late-summer native onion topping grassy clumps with starry pink flower domes. Pollinator-rich, deer-proof, and at home on dry rocky glades. Like other wild onions, the bulb, leaves, and flowers are all traditional foods — but as with any wild onion, be certain of identification, since large quantities of some related species have poisoned livestock and pets.

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

1–1.5 ft

Spacing

0.5–1 ft apart

Light

part shade

Soil moisture

moist

Soil pH

neutral, alkaline

Bloom

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Bloom colors

white, pink, purple

Wildlife value

pollinators, butterflies

Landscape uses

border, container

Native states

AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, SD, TX, WI