prairie wildflower
Canadian Meadow garlic
Allium canadense
Also known as Meadow Garlic, Wild Garlic, Wild Onion
1 of 2Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
New Brunswick to South Dakota, south to northern Florida and Texas
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 4–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Apr–Jun Flowering time
- Height up to 12 in to 30 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun and evenly moist soil. Its white and pink flowers peak in April. At up to 12 in, it tucks into meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 4–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Canadian Meadow garlic's white and pink flowers bloom April to June, peaking in April. This spring display draws butterflies and flower flies.
Canadian Meadow garlic blooms white & pinkFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Common Buckeye
also Gray Hairstreak, American Lady, Orange Sulphur +2 more
Variegated Fritillary, American Red Admiral - Flower flies Margined Calligrapher also Eastern Calligrapher
- Bees Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- American ladynectar
- Common buckeyenectar
- Gray hairstreaknectar
- Orange sulphurnectar
- Red admiralnectar
- Variegated fritillarynectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (38): AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (3): NB, ON, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- New Brunswick to South Dakota, south to northern Florida and TexasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–9 · Canadian 5–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moderately rich, neutral soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Water use
- MediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 12 in (to 30 cm)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~1 ft (0.2 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Apr–JunWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Apr–JunThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.