African Garden + Spring

Photo of the Week: Allium Cernuum

A blessed event has occurred this week at Squirrelhaven: over an inch of rain has fallen. While it's not enough to break the drought, it is appreciated. Allium cernuum, the prairie onion, had begun blooming before the rain.
In the prairies around here, its blooms are pinkish lavender to pale purple, but mine always bloom white to palest pink. I can't recall from where I got it, but I think I need the local genotype too. Allium cernuum is featured at the Lurie Garden (I grew it first). It self-sows a bit too prolifically in my garden and I always have too pull some bulbs in the spring. I wouldn't want to get rid of it, though, because it's a cute little native plant that is completely undemanding.