Written by : Lisa Bird 
Photo by: Lisa Bird
Wild Onion
Allium textile
Appearance: Wild Onion is a dainty native flower related to the giant garden alliums in the bulb catalogs. This 12” high charmer has white bell-like flowers in a rounded cluster above a slender leafless stalk. The gray-green, grass-like leaves usually form at the base, two to a flower stalk. It is one of the earliest wild flowers to bloom, starting in April and blooming to June.
Habitat: Found in the plains and foothills at elevations between 3,500 and 8,000 ft. Commonly seen along trails on dry slopes or hillsides, it grows in sun or in partial shade.
Landscape suitability: Wild Onion is perfect for rock gardens. Its airy flowers give a lacey appearance to the front of a border or when grouped in a naturalized area. Drought tolerant, once established, it grows well in most soils with good drainage, but will tolerate some clay.
Sources: Native Plant Master Manual, El Paso County; Colorado State University; 2008
Guide to Colorado Wildflowers, Volume 1, Plains and Foothills; G.K.Guennel;
Westcliff Publishers; 2004
Plants for Natural Gardens; Judith Phillips; Museum of New Mexico Press,
Santa Fe; 1995
Pikes Peak Area Garden Help 
August 3, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Can these also be purple? Are they edible?
Thanks!
August 3, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Hi Nancy –
Are the onions you’re seeing blooming now (and in Colorado)? The white onion with the white flowers (Allium textile) is pretty much done blooming. You might be lucky enough to catch the native nodding onion now (Allium cernuum) which has a looser, pink flower head. You can see a photo at http://www.easterncoloradowildflowers.com/_s_3frame.htm .) Both native onions do have an edible bulb, but be very very sure you’ve correctly identified your plant before eating one!