Allium acuminatum Hook.

Bulbs 1–12+, not basally clustered, not forming rhizomes, ovoid to ± globose, 0.8–1.6 × 0.9–1.6 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more renewal bulbs, ± yellow-brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells square or polygonal, walls thick, obscurely sinuous, without fibers; inner coats white, cells obscure, ± quadrate. Leaves persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, subterete or ± channeled, 7–30 cm × 1–3 mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 10–35 cm × 1–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, 10–40-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–7-veined, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers campanulate, 8–15 mm; tepals erect, pink to rose-purple, or white, lanceolate to lance-ovate, unequal, becoming rigid and keeled in fruit, margins finely denticulate (inner tepal more prominently so), apex acuminate, outer tepal longer and wider than inner, spreading to recurved at tip, inner tepal with strongly recurved tips; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 3, central, 2-lobed, rounded, minute, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, obscurely 3-lobed; pedicel 6–25 mm. Seed coat dull or shining; cells minutely roughened. 2n = 14.

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in Western North America from Washington to Northern California amongst dry sunny rocks on hills and plains. It grows in a sunny position in a light well drained soil. They do not suit cool wet climates. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

The bulb is eaten raw or cooked in early spring. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The flowers are eaten raw in salads. The seed heads can be placed in hot ashes to extract the seeds which are then eaten.

Bulbs need to be planted fairly deeply. It should not be grown with legumes as it limits their growth. Plants can be grown from seed or by division of clumps. Seeds take a year to establish.