Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
forbs
Allium acuminatum (Hooker’s onion)
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A perennial herb from 10 to 30 cm in height. It grows from a small grey-brown, egg shaped bulb with a fibrous, net-like network on the surface, inner scales white. The 2-3 or more basal leaves are linear and cylindric, 1-3 mm wide and wither before the flowers appear. The flowers are rose coloured, parchment-like and stand erect. in upright umbels with 7-25 flowers and with 2 bracts under the umbel. Both the sepals and petals are fine pointed and curl outwards. The fruit is a capsule with 3 obscure ridges and black seeds. The entire plant smells and tastes of onion. Blooms from May to July. (Pojar and MacKinnon, 2004; Douglas et al, 2001). Photo by Chris Junck.
Scientific Name:
Allium acuminatum
English Name:
Hooker’s onion
Other Names:
taper-tip onion
Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements
Ecological Setting:
Dry, rocky bluffs, Garry oak woodlands and meadows in the lowland and steppe zones (Douglas et al). Scattered on water shedding sites with shallow soils (Klinka et al).
Soil Texture:
Rocky crevices and sandy soils (Turner).
Nutrients:
Nitrogen-medium shallow soils (Klnka et al).
Soil Reaction and Salinity:
n/a
Moisture Regime:
Characteristic of moisture-deficient sites (Klinka et al) but also does well with some moisture if the soil is well-drained.
Shade Tolerance:
Very shade intolerant (Klinka et al).
BEC Zone and GOE Community Status:
Rocky bluffs in Garry oak ecosystems.
Uses
Landscaping:
Showy blooms with grass-like tufts. Does well in drifts or groups in the front border of a rockery. Also suitable for container planting.
First Nations:
The bulbs were eaten by several indigenous groups. They were eaten both raw and steamed in pits lined with pine boughs, covered with lichens and alder boughs (Turner, 1995).
Seed Propagation
Seed Collection Time:
July
Number of Seeds per Kilogram:
253,691 seeds/lb (Skinner)
Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction:
Place dry flower heads in a paper bag and shake to dislodge seeds (Milne).
Seed Storage:
Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity (Skinner).
Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment:
Cool, moist stratification and cool growing conditions are needed. No seed germinated without pretreatment. 30 days of cool, moist stratification resulted in a few seeds germinating, but they did not survive in the greenhouse. High germination was obtained from seeds sown in flats and left outside under cool, fluctuating spring temperatures. Seedlings which germinated outside died when placed in the greenhouse (Skinner).
Vegetative Propagation
| Method |
Success Rate |
Time of Collection |
| Softwood cuttings |
n/a |
n/a |
| Semi-hardwood cuttings |
n/a |
n/a |
| Hardwood cuttings |
n/a |
n/a |
| Root cuttings |
n/a |
n/a |
| Suckers |
n/a |
n/a |
| Plant division |
n/a |
n/a |
Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements
Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. The bulbs tend to rot when grown in cool wet climates, even if they are given sharp drainage. This species is best in a cold frame and given a dry summer rest. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants (PFAF)
Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques
Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle - if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them in the greenhouse for at least the first winter and plant them in their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division in spring. Very easy, the plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season and the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required (PFAF).
In November, seed is sown in flats filled with Sunshine #4 and covered lightly. A thin layer of sand is applied to prevent seeds and planting soil from floating. Flats are watered well and placed outside.
- Establishment Phase: Flats remain outside. They are watered only during dry spells. Germination will begin as daytime temperatures warm in March, and may occur over 2-4 weeks. Some additional seed will germinate the year following sowing.
- Length of Establishment Phase: 2 months
- Active Growth Phase: Plants are watered as needed while outside and fertilized once a week with a water soluble, complete fertilizer. They are moved to the lath house in June. Plants will begin to go dormant in July. Water is cut back and fertilizer is withheld as the plants dry down. Flats remain in the lath house for at least 3 growing seasons.
- Length of Active Growth Phase: 3 years
- Hardening Phase: Plants are dormant as winter approaches. They are stored in the lath house over winter. Flats should be covered with an insulating material to protect the bulbs from extreme cold if snow cover is lacking. Regrowth will begin in early March as soon as temperatures begin to warm.
- Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Bulbs are harvested in the fall of the third growing season by sifting the potting soil thru a sieve. Pea gravel should not be used to cover flats because it is roughly the same size as the bulbs and therefore difficult to separate. Bulbs range in size from 3-5 mm in diameter. They can be stored in dry conditions for a short period prior to planting. We have not attempted to store bulbs for a longer period.
- Other Comments: No insect or disease problems have been noted. Bulbs may need initial protection from rodents after outplanting (Skinner).
