Nodding Wild Onion
Allium cernuum
From North Creek Nurseries
Description
Found on ledges, in dry meadows, gravel, rocky or wooded slopes, this delicate onion has gently nodding pink flowers in late spring. Beautiful in the garden or naturalized in a meadow. Easy, dependable and very drought tolerant once established.
Culture
Full sun in moist, average or dry soil. Very easy to grow and drought tolerant once established. Will tolerate light shade, but will give best show in full sun.
Additional Information
Easy to identify by its distinctive, nodding, pastel lilac-pink flowers, Nodding Onion survives in challenging sites. Native to the US, this diminutive 1-2' Allium thrives on rocky outcrops, dry woodlands, and bone dry prairies. In the garden tuck a handful here and there, among rockery, in the woodland popping up through Carex foliage, nestled up
against a tree trunk, or in the sunny rock garden. It readily reseeds. If this is not desired, deadhead when the flowers fade.
Traditional and folk remedies
- high in Vitamin A
- good for preventing scurvy
- used in strong teas for intestinal worms
Traditional and folk uses
- used as flavoring for meats and soups
- squirrels use onions as food
- onion bulbs cooked (Ill. State Museum)
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