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Native Plant Society of Texas

Prairie Onion

Allium stellatum

Other common name(s):

Autumn Onion

Family:

Amaryllidaceae (Daffodil Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers
Grand Prairie, Western Cross Timbers

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
2
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Calcareous, Clay, Gravelly, Limestone, Moist, Rocky

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Purple, White

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Butterflies

Maintenance

Striking when planted in mass. Appreciates morning sun and afternoon shade. Deadhead flowers before setting seed if you would like to prevent self-seeding. Native habitat: rocky prairies, slopes, shores, ridges. disturbed areas.

Description

Blooms January-December. Produces chive-like stems and leaves that die back as the flowering stalks appear. Flowers are clustered in rounded umbels on a single flowering stalk. The fruit is a capsule.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification For most efficient growth, plant Prairie Onion Allium Stellatum seeds in the fall; the seed will remain dormant until early spring. Nodding Onion can also be direct sown in early spring, after the seeds have been refrigerated for 60 days. To start indoors, keep the seed in the refrigerator for 60 days then plant 2-3 Prairie Onion Allium Stellatum seeds each in individual pots. Keep the soil lightly moist and the temperature around 60 degrees F until germination. Germination may be slow. Keep young seedlings moist until they become established. 1) https://www.everwilde.com/store/Allium-stellatum-WildFlower-Seed.html#:~:text=HOW%20TO%20GROW,as%20soon%20as%20they%20fade. 2) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Allium+stellatum#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,their%20permanent%20positions%20if%20required.
Bulb Division Once a plant has eight to 10 shoots, or every third year, you can dig up and separate the bulblets from the parent bulb. After you have dug up the parent bulb, carefully pull the larger bulblets off, but leave any tiny offsets still attached to allow them to grow larger before separating in a later season. Plant each new division and the parent bulb root side down about four inches deep and four to six inches apart into loosened soil. Cover with soil, and water lightly. You can divide prairie onions at any time during the growing season, but the best time to separate and plant the bulbs is in the autumn. 1) https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/grow-prairie-onion/#:~:text=Sow%20two%20to%20three%20seeds,bulblets%20from%20the%20parent%20bulb. 2) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Allium+stellatum#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,their%20permanent%20positions%20if%20required.

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason