Allium cernuum 'Pink Nodding'
Pink Nodding Onion is a native clump-forming cool-weather perennial wildflower that grows in dry to moist prairies, along stream banks, and at high altitudes. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 18-24” and features light green grass-like leaves, a long stalk that nods at its end, and small umbels of pink and white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, provides bird forage, repels moles, rodents, moths, and other insects, tolerates deer, tolerates drought and frost, self-sows, and is both edible and medicinal!
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General Information
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Germination
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Seedlings
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Crop Care
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Harvesting
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Seed Saving
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Culinary
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Medicinal
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Companion Planting
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Other Uses
Genus: Allium
Species: cernuum
Variety: Pink Nodding Onion
Also Known As: Lady Leeks
Native to: Alabama, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Mexico Northeast, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Introduced into: Great Britain.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Late spring and summer
Hardiness: hardy
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot. Prefers cool conditions and doesn't particularly like heat, but it will grow in heat if you provide it more moisture. It's a pretty adaptable, independent plant, and will grow almost anywhere and doesn't need a lot of care.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 40°F - 85°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 50°F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Full sun to part shade.
Water: Dry to medium.
Feeder: Light
Maintenance: Medium
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Chives are an excellent candidate for container growing. Plant in a container at least 6 inches deep.
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes. As well as repelling deer, rodents, and harmful insects, this plant attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Plant Height: 18-24"
Plant Spacing: 6"-1'
Sow Depth: 1/8"
Produces: light green grass-like leaves, a long stalk that nods at its end, and small umbels of pink and white flowers.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10
Germination Temp: 60 degrees F
Germination Time: 20-50 Days
Plant seeds outdoors in fall. Seeds germinate best if scarified.
Leaves: raw or cooked. A delicious, strong-onion flavor, they are very nice in salads. The leaves are available from spring until the autumn and are one of the most favorite onions we are growing on our Cornish trial grounds.
Flowers: raw or cooked. A delicious strong onion flavor, somewhat stronger than the leaves especially if the seeds are starting to set. They make a very decorative and tasty addition to the salad bowl.
Known hazards of Allium cernuum: Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible.
Suggested Varieties
(Pimpinella anisum ‘Anise’)
Anise is a clump-forming tender perennial herb that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be commonly found growing throughout the north-central United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 3-4' and features green stems, feathery, fern-like foliage with numerous umbels of clustered white flowers. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and parasitic wasps, is used to flavor perfume and toothpaste, makes insect repellent, essential oils, potpourri, and mouthwash, and is edible and medicinal!
(Hyssopus officinalis ‘Hyssop')
Hyssop is a shrubby perennial herb that is native to Asia and the Mediterranean but can be commonly found growing in gardens and along road sides throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features woody stems, fragrant 1” dark green narrow toothed leaves, and aromatic, tubular, two-lipped flowers that varying in colors of bright blue, pink, or white. This plant grows in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, repels cabbage butterfly, tolerates drought, is used to flavors perfume, is used to make essential oils and potpourri, self sows, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Asclepias curassavica ‘Blood Flower’)
Blood Flower Milkweed is a tender evergreen perennial flower that is native to South America but can be commonly found growing in moist areas and disturbed sites throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features upright stems, 6” lance-shaped leaves, and showy clusters of reddish/orange petals with yellow hoods. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, makes fabric, has medicinal properties, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!
(Asclepias tuberosa ‘Butterfly Weed’)
Butterfly Weed Milkweed is a native perennial flower that grows in prairies, open woods, fields, and along roadsides throughout most of the United States. When mature, this plant can grow up to 2-3'. It is characterized by hairy, upright stems, lance-shaped leaves, and striking clusters of orangish-yellow flowers on top. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and ladybugs, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self-sows, and has medicinal properties!
(Asclepias syriaca ‘Common’)
Common Milkweed is a native perennial flower that grows in open woods, fields, and along railroads and roadsides throughout the central and eastern United States. When mature, this plant can reach 3-4 feet tall. Its thick, upright stems support red-veined light green leaves and produce aromatic clusters of purplish-pink flowers in a dome-shaped formation. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is used to make fabric, glue, paper, soap, and twine, self-sows, has medicinal properties, and is used as a cut flower!
(Asclepias speciosa ‘Showy’)
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Showy Milkweed is a native perennial flower that grows in open woods, along roadsides and streams, and on dry slopes throughout the central and western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-4' and features thick upright stems, 8” velvety oval-shaped greenish-gray leaves, and aromatic star-shaped light pink to pinkish purple flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is used to make cordage and fabric, self-sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is used as a cut flower!
(Asclepias incarnata ‘Swamp’)
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Swamp Milkweed is a native clump-forming perennial flower that grows in wet areas such as swamps and river edges throughout most of the United States. When this plant reaches maturity, it typically grows to 3-4 feet. It has lance-shaped green foliage that measures 3-6 inches in length and produces small clusters of pink flowers that give off a pleasant aroma. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is used to make cordage and fabric, self-sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is used as a cut flower!