Triteleia hyacinthina aka Fool's Onion

Triteleia hyacinthina grows from a bulb in western North America. People call it white brodiaea and wild hyacinth. Kew puts it in Asparagaceae, the asparagus family. Its native range spans southwest Canada to central California. Records also list Washington and Oregon, plus northern Idaho and northwest Nevada. It grows in regions with a temperate climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant grows about 2.3 feet [0.7 metres] tall. It spreads about 0.3 feet [0.1 metres] wide. Wild plants grow on open grassy flats and rocky ground. They also grow in wet sites, meadows, and on slopes. They reach mountain meadows at 5,900 feet [1,800 metres]. Plants For A Future describes two forms of this species. The larger form has white flowers and grows in wet ground. The smaller form grows on slopes that are drier. The source lists flowers from May through August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers.

In gardens, the plant needs an open site without shade. Plants For A Future advises rich sandy loam that drains well. Both sandy soil and loam suit the plant. It copes with soil that is mildly acid or mildly alkaline. Neutral soil suits it too. Give it ample water while it grows. It then needs a warm, dry spell in late summer and autumn. A warm outdoor spot with good shelter gives the best chance of success. Try a bulb frame where outdoor sites do not suit it. The source lists beds near south- or east-facing walls as planting sites.

The account leaves doubt about how much cold it can bear. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. Yet it questions the colder limit of this range. It warns that plants may prove much less hardy. Sow ripe seed in a cold frame, or sow in spring. Seeds take one to three months to sprout at about 15°C. Young plants need time under cover before you plant them out. Damping off can harm seedlings. Avoid excess water and give them good airflow at this stage.

Plants For A Future says people can eat the underground bulb raw or cooked. It holds starch and can take the place of a potato. The account also notes its use as a fallback food. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety for pets. It records no uses as medicine or for other practical needs. The same source does not flag this species as weedy.