Species Geyer's Onion
light-purple flowers with green foliage and stems

Geyer's Onion

Allium geyeri

Geyer's Onion (Allium geyeri) is a perennial plant native to California. It features striking 8-inch long pinkish-purple umbels atop up to 2-foot tall stems. The deep-green narrow leaves form narrow clumps at the base of the plant. In summer, the brilliant star-shaped flowers bloom, attracting pollinators and adding a dramatic element to the landscape. The flowers develop into green seed capsules in the fall. Geyer's Onion is bloom hardy and easy to grow, making it a great choice for gardeners looking to add a bold pop of color to their landscape.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Bulb Propagation,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,gray,gray

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Geyer's Onion (Allium geyeri) should be watered when the soil is mostly dry, about every 2 to 3 weeks. Start by checking the soil at the top of the pot every few days to see if it is dry. If the top inch or so of soil is dry, it’s time to water. Water until it runs out of the bottom of the pot or until the soil is completely moist. This plant is drought tolerant and can survive dry periods, so it’s better to water less than more. Too much water can lead to root rot and other fungal problems.

sunlight

Geyer's Onion (Allium geyeri) requires full sunshine for optimum growth. It grows best when it receives 8 hours of sunlight daily. This includes morning and evening sunlight. It is especially important for plants grown in containers. During summer months, morning sun and afternoon shade may be beneficial for Geyer's Onion. It can be grown in a partially shaded spot in the garden but will have poor growth and may lose its flower stalks.

pruning

Geyer's Onion (Allium geyeri) is a perennial species, and should be pruned in late winter or early spring, just before new growth appears. For best results, prune only a portion of the plant each year, removing the oldest, tallest stems. Don’t remove more than 1-third of the foliage in any given year. Cut the stems close to the base, and compost the debris. Removing weaker stems also will promote maximum size and blooming of the plant.