Douglas' Onion
Allium douglasii
- Native to:
- United States
Wendy Feltham (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Genus:
- Allium
- Species:
- Allium douglasii
- USDA Symbol:
- ALDO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Bulbs resprout readily following fire. Adapted to fire-prone sagebrush and grassland ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to open, rocky slopes and grasslands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from cold stratification. Germination can be erratic; best sown in fall for natural stratification.
Pre-treatment: Single-step cold-moist stratification for temperate woodland species. for 60–120 days
Source: Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Seed viability < 1 year for cold germinators except for A. cristophii