Nodding Onion plant profile
Allium cernuum
A perennial herb for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Nodding Onion
NC State Extension says nodding onion is easiest to propagate by dividing its bulblets, and it also self-sows. Set out bulbs or divisions in spring or fall in well-drained soil; the bulb is edible but the plant is grown mainly for its flowers.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Nodding Onion in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 6 to 12 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a to 8bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: bulb mites, spreads by offsets and seed.
Next steps
Continue with Nodding Onion
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion, Lady's Leek, Wild Onion)
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.