A Horticulture Information article from the Wisconsin Master Gardener website, posted 23 June 2008
There are many ornamental fl owering onions that offer a variety of unusual shapes and forms. The nodding onion, Allium cernuum (cernuum means nodding in Latin) is an attractive small species native to North America, distributed from New York to Michigan and British Columbia and south in the mountains and cooler regions from Arizona and North Georgia. (= A. recurvatum). It occurs on rocky soils in glades, bluff edges, open woods, dry meadows and prairies throughout its native range. Because of its wide distribution, it is variable in plant size, fl ower color and bloom time. As with other members of the genus, it has the characteristic, pungent onion aroma. It is hardy in zones 4-8.
The plants grow 8-18” tall, forming attractive clumps. Flat, narrow, grass-like leaves emerge from a slender conic bulb with a brown membranous outer layer. The foliage persists into late summer before dying back. The clumps slowly expand by making Nodding onion, Allium cernuum. new offsets.
Each mature bulb typically bears a single fl owering stem with up to 30 fl owers. The light pink to lavender or occasionally white fl owers are produced in loose, pendulous umbels like little fi reworks atop erect, leafl ess scapes (fl ower stems) rising slightly above the foliage. The scapes bend sharply downward at the top so that the umbel droops downward. The small bell-shaped fl owers have protruding stamens. The plants bloom in early to mid-summer and are attractive to butterfl ies and bees.
The fl owers are borne in loose umbels on drooping scapes.
After the fl owers fade, a very decorative seed head remains. Spherical crested fruits later split open to release the dull black seeds, each with a honey-comb pattern on the surface.
Seedheads ripening (L) and opening (C) to expose the dull black seeds (R). A. cernuum is a great addition to the rock garden, borders and cottage gardens. They naturalize well, so look at home in natural landscapes, wild gardens and meadows, but can also be an attractive addi- tion to formal gardens. It is most effectively planted in small groups and is best interplanted with other perennials to hide the declining foliage. It will grow up nicely through wild geranium (Geranium macula- tum and other species) or other low groundcovers. Try planting it in front of Liatris ‘Kobold’ (a compact variety) or near winecups (Callirhoe involucrata) that will ramble around the bulbs.
Nodding onion is very easy to grow. It prefers well-drained soil in full sun, but will tolerate clay soils. It thrives in diffi cult sites such as hot sun and gravely soil. Divide every third year or when 8-10 bulbs ap- pear in the clump.
This allium will self seed, so deadhead fl owers before seed sets to reduce unwanted spread. Plants are easily grown from seed or can be ordered as bulbs. Seeds can be sown in a cold frame or indoors well before last frost. Collect seeds when the seed cap- sules turn tan or straw-colored, but before they open, and when the seeds are black. Seeds can be stored under refrigeration for up to 3 years. I have had great results with fall-sown seed in a gravel bed. Plants will start blooming in their second or third year after sowing. Plants can also be propagated by division in early spring or fall.
Like other alliums, A. cernuum is has few pests. It is edible, and although the strongly fl avored leaves and bulbs were once used for food, it is not considered to have any culinary value today. Native Americans used the bulbs for medicinal purposes. Some wildlife, such as bears and ground squirrels will eat the bulbs. Elk and deer may graze the new spring growth, but nodding onion is Nodding onion is a great addition to the generally considered deer resistant. rock garden.
The species is available as seed or plugs from various native plant nurseries. The cultivar ‘Major’ produces larger plants and larger fl ower clusters than the species. ‘Leo’ has white fl owers sometimes tinged with pink, shorter leaves and is later fl owering than many types. ‘Oxy White’ is another white- fl owered form that was once classifi ed as a different species, O. oxyphilum, and is supposed to be slower growing. ‘Hidcote’ is an English selection that is taller than the typical form, with larger fl ower heads and rose purple fl owers. It was given a Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit.
– Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Additional Information: Allium cernuum – on the Missouri Botanic Garden’s Kemper Center for Home Gardening website at www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfi nder/Plant.asp?code=Z580 Nodding Onion – on the Prairie Wildfl owers of Illinois website at www.illinoiswildfl owers.info/prairie/ plantx/nod_onionx.htm Alliums: The Ornamental Onions, by Dilys Davies 168 pages color photos. Reference guide to more than 200 spp. Includes botanical information, cultivation guides and hardiness ratings and more.