Plant Names
Allium stellatum
Autumn Onion
Ail étoilé
Synonyms
glade onion
pink-flowered onion
prairie onion
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Purple
Bloom Period: Jul - Aug
Max Height: 1.0 feet
Max Width: 0.7 feet
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits:
Butterfly host
Tolerates:
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
Autumn Onion has slender, upright, blue-green leaves and rounded clusters of small pink to pale lavender flowers. It typically blooms in late summer to early fall, making it useful for extending the flowering season. It is an excellent choice for dry prairie gardens, sunny borders, and gravelly sites. It forms small clumps and is very drought tolerant once established. It requires excellent drainage, particularly during winter; wet, heavy soil can cause bulbs to rot. It does not need rich soil. You can divide bulbs in fall or early spring if clumps become crowded.
Plant Location
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Thrives in Ecozones
- Boreal Plains
- Prairies
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Allium stellatum
-
Euxoa tessellata
Tessellate dart
Specialized Bees Supported by Allium stellatum
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Capnoides sempervirens
Pink Corydalis
Corydale toujours verte - Drymocallis arguta
Tall Wood Beauty
Potentille âcre - Eragrostis spectabilis
Purple Lovegrass
Éragrostide brillante - Liatris cylindracea
Cylindrical Blazing Star
Liatris cylindrique - Monarda punctata
Spotted Beebalm
Monarde ponctuée
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Alliums (Non-Native Alliums)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: September
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are slightly open and seeds inside are dark
- Harvesting:
- Use hand to detach from main stem
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/32 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
All parts of Allium species can be toxic to dogs, cats, and some livestock if eaten in sufficient quantities. Onions and related plants can damage red blood cells and cause serious illness, particularly in pets. Do not allow pets or livestock to consume the foliage or bulbs.
Canadensis