NODDING ONION

Botanical Name:  Allium cernuum
Plant Family: Lily (Liliaceae)

Description: Soft, grasslike leaves and a 1-2 ft., leafless flowering stalk rise from a bulb. The stem bends so that the pink flowers, borne in a cluster at the top, nod toward the ground. An umbel of many pink or white flowers at the tip of a long, erect, leafless stalk, bent like a shepherd’s crook; a basal cluster of several long, narrow leaves. All parts of the perennial have a mild, oniony scent.   

Growing Conditions:  Sun, Moist soil.  

Bloom Time:   Mid, Jun-Aug
Bloom Color:  Pink

Benefit to pollinators/wildlife:  Attracts Butterflies like the Hairstreak and Hummingbirds.  Nice nectar source.

Native Status: PA native, US native

Location in habitat:  Pennsylvania Native Plant Society Demonstration Garden