Pollinator plant

Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

26 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Allegheny Onion[1]
  • Lady's Leek[1]
  • New Mexican nodding onion
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse look
  • Look
French
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • česnek převislý[3]
Danish
  • alleghenyprydløg[3]
Downriver Halkomelem
  • q̓ʷəχʷíʔəc[3]
Estonian
Finnish
  • nuokkulaukka[3]
Island Halkomelem
  • qw'uxwi'uc[3]
Ojibwe
  • Zhigaagawanzh (Cîgaga'wûnj)[3]
Russian
  • Лук склонённый[3]
Saanich
Secwepemc
Slovak
  • cesnak sklonený[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • prärielök[3]
Upriver Halkomelem
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Allium cernuum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Nodding Onion — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium cernuum.
  • Allegheny Onion — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium cernuum.
  • Lady's Leek — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium cernuum.
  • Nodding Wild Onion — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium cernuum.
  • Wild Onion — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium cernuum.
[2] Allium cernuum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • nodding onion — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • Ail penché — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • wild onion — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • ajo-cebolla — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
[3] Allium cernuum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • nodding onion — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • Ail penché — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • wild onion — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • ajo-cebolla — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • kaldlauk — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • česnek převislý — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • Zhigaagawanzh (Cîgaga'wûnj) — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • prärielök — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • alleghenyprydløg — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • Лук склонённый — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • 垂头蒜 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • 垂頭蒜 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • nuokkulaukka — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • 垂花韭 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • cesnak sklonený — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • q̓ʷəχʷíʔəc — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • st'exut — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • qw'uxwi'uc — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • SḴEX̱ — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
  • qwléwe — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 116364; Allium cernuum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Amaryllidaceae

Genus-level classification for Allium; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Allium cernuum.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.15–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.1–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Arching; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
W. & S. Canada to NE. Mexico.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown

Solitary wild bees

High suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous, Vegetable
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.50 m high × 0.30 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-9
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Root, Flowers
Edibility
5 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

Spring onion - edible in both raw and cooked forms. This strongly scented bulb is mainly used as a flavoring. The bulb is about 50 mm long and 15 mm wide. Onion leaves - suitable for eating raw or cooked. With a delicious, strong onion-like flavor, they are an excellent addition to salads. These leaves are available from spring to autumn and are among the favorite ingredients of the local cuisine in Cornwall. Flowers - can be consumed in both raw and cooked forms. They have a delightful strong onion-like flavor, slightly more intense than the leaves, especially when the seeds begin to form. The flowers are both decorative and tasty, making a beautiful addition to salads.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Allium — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 3537954; ID 8VTKZ; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Allium cernuum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Allium cernuum — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 254033; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 413604, 413605, 413606, 413607, 413608, 413609, 413610, 413611, 413612, 413613, 413614, 413615, 413616, 413617, 413618, 413619, 413620, 413621, 413622, 413623, 413624, 413625, 413626, 413627, 413628, 413629, 413630, 413631, 413632, 413633, 413634, 413635, 413636, 413637, 413638, 413639, 413640, 413641

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.