Alphabetical Plant Listing

Allium cernuum (Lady's Leek)

Lady's Leek, Nodding Wild Onion


Native to North America, Allium cernuum (Nodding Wild Allium) is a lovely, carefree, bulbous, herbaceous perennial with loose, nodding umbels of tiny bell-shaped, pink to lilac or even white flowers. Erect, each stem produces up to 30 flowers! These blooms are nicely complemented by narrow, strap-shaped leaves that remain attractive for a reasonably long period until they die back in late summer. Blooming from late spring to mid-summer, this lovely Allium exudes an onion smell when cut or bruised.

  • Grows in clumps, up to 12-18 in. high (30-45 cm) and 3-5 in. wide (7-12 cm), this beauty naturalizes easily and will come back year after year!
  • Easily grown in averagedry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Light afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer climates and sandy soils are welcomed!
  • Attracts butterflies, but deer ignore it!
  • Stunning in beds, bordersrock gardens, cottage gardens, or city gardens. For best visual impact, plant in groups (at least 10 to 15 bulbs).
  • To be planted in spring (seed) or fall (bulbs).
  • Deadhead flowers before seed set to control any unwanted spread.
  • Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame when ripe or in the spring or remove offsets in autumn.
  • Native to North America, from New York to Michigan and British Columbia and south in the mountains and cooler regions from Arizona and North Georgia. It occurs on rocky soils in glades, bluff edges, open woods, dry meadows, and prairies.

Many hundreds of Allium species exist, but only a modest few have made a name for themselves as garden plants. The ornamental onions distinguish themselves by their great diversity in color, inflorescence, and flowering height. Many species bloom in early summer - just after the spring-flowering period and just before the exuberant full bloom of summer. All species can be used in the border. Certain small species are just perfect for a rock garden, and several lend themselves to naturalizing.

Learn How To Plant And Care for Your Spring Flower Bulbs

 To achieve optimum flowering results, it is important to plant the bulbs at the right time.

Read More

Not sure which Allium to pick?
Compare All Allium

Buy Allium cernuum (Lady's Leek)

Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 5 – 9
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Allium
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 3" – 5" (7cm – 12cm)
Spacing 10" (25cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Allium

Guides with Allium


Photo courtesy: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, Joshua Meyer, Flickr

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 5 – 9
Plant Type Bulbs
Plant Family Allium
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 3" – 5" (7cm – 12cm)
Spacing 10" (25cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Allium

Guides with Allium

Plant Calculator

How many Allium cernuum (Lady's Leek) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Allium cernuum (Lady's Leek)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.