prairie wildflower
Prairie Onion
Allium stellatum
Also known as Autumn Onion
1 of 2Native to the Great Plains and the Midwest and southern Canada
Ontario to Saskatchewan, south to Tennessee and Texas
- Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 2–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jul–Sep Flowering time
- Height up to 2 ft to 0.6 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for partial shade and evenly moist soil. Its white flowers peak in August. At up to 2 ft, it suits meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 2–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Prairie Onion's white flowers bloom July to September, peaking in August. This late-summer display draws bees and butterflies.
Prairie Onion blooms white, pink & purpleFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee, Two-spotted Bumble Bee +8 more
American Bumble Bee, Red-belted Bumble Bee, Black-and-gold Bumble Bee, Lemon Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Rusty-patched Bumble Bee, Confusing Furrow Bee, Southern Plains Bumble Bee, Kincaid's Cellophane Bee - Butterflies Coral Hairstreak
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Coral hairstreaknectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The Great Plains and the Midwest and southern CanadaUnited States (14): AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, MN, MO, ND, OK, SD, TN, TX, WI, WY. Canada (3): MB, ON, SK. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Ontario to Saskatchewan, south to Tennessee and TexasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 2–9 · Canadian 2–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Mesic to dry, rocky 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).
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 2 ft (to 0.6 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jul–SepWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, Pink, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Aug–OctThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- Poisonous if eatenWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.