Allium crispum, commonly known as Crinkled Onion, is a perennial herb endemic to California, specifically found in the chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodlands of the Central Coast, including the Coast Ranges and Santa Monica Mountains. It prefers the unique serpentine soils and clays of its native range, thriving in these challenging conditions. Crinkled Onion typically grows to a modest height of 4 to 8 inches tall from an underground bulb. Its appearance is characterized by narrow, linear leaves and striking magenta flowers that bloom from March to June. Each flower consists of six triangular tepals that create a star-like shape, which is quite showy during the flowering season.

Crinkled Onion is valued for its ornamental flowers and its adaptability to dry, rocky soils, making it suitable for rock gardens, native plant gardens, and xeriscaping. It requires minimal maintenance once established and is drought-tolerant, needing only occasional water in extremely dry conditions. Full sun to part shade is ideal for this Allium species, and it is generally free of serious pests and diseases. However, it is important to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to bulb rot. Crinkled Onion is also used in culinary applications, with both the bulb and leaves being edible, although it is not as commonly cultivated for this purpose as other Allium species.CC BY-SA 4.0