Spanish Needle Onion

Allium shevockii

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Amaryllidaceae
Genus:
Allium
Species:
Allium shevockii
USDA Symbol:
ALSH

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Geophyte
Height:
30 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
pink, purple

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rocky, well-drained granitic soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to serpentine soils in California

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Requires cool temperatures for germination. Fall sowing recommended for alpine species.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI