Allium douglasii aka Douglas' Onion

Allium douglasii, or Douglas' onion, belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. It grows from a bulb beneath the soil. Its native range runs from southeastern Washington to northeastern Oregon. Kew places it within a temperate climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows on low hills with shallow soil. These sites are wet in winter but dry in summer.

This small plant reaches about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall. Its spread is about 0.3 feet (0.1 metres). The bulb reaches roughly 0.1 feet (0.03 metres) long. It can reach about 0.07 feet (0.02 metres) wide. PFAF lists its flowering season as July to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. The supplied species records give no details about fruit or leaf shape.

Grow Douglas' onion in sun rather than shade. It suits sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. The soil may be dry or moist. Its wild habitat has a clear winter-to-summer change in moisture. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. PFAF advises planting the bulbs fairly deep. The species can grow in cultivated beds. Its small size allows it to fit into limited space. The supplied records give no hardiness zone or frost limit.

Seeds can be sown in a cold frame in spring. Move seedlings into pots once they are large enough to handle. PFAF suggests keeping young plants under glass through their first winter. Plant them outside in spring once growth is strong. Division offers another way to raise plants. Spring is the stated time, though division can work during active growth. Keep divisions under cover until they establish, then plant them out.

The bulbs and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The bulbs have a mild, sweet taste. Use them in salads or as a cooked vegetable or flavouring. Raw flowers can serve as a salad garnish. PFAF also records moth-repellent use of the plant's juice. It reports claims that whole plants deter insects and moles. These records do not establish how well those uses work. No species-specific poisoning reports appear in the supplied evidence. The cited safety warning concerns other members of the genus, not confirmed cases in this species.