Bloomipedia
Textile onion (Allium textile)
Photo: Brian Dickerson via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Textile onion

Allium textile

Native in the lower 48

Textile onion is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

14states
2of our state lists
2,229U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: North Dakota, South Dakota

Quick look

Allium textile is a common species of wild onion found in the central part of North America.

  • It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to South Dakota and North Dakota. NatureServe
  • In South Dakota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In North Dakota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 147 research-grade sightings of it in South Dakota, ranking #100 among the 108 flowers on our South Dakota list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 136 research-grade sightings of it in North Dakota, ranking #52 among the 109 flowers on our North Dakota list. iNaturalist

Textile onion gift ideas

Handmade textile onion gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (526 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
South DakotaNativeMay–June147
North DakotaNativeMay–June136

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KS (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Allium ampeloprasum (“Leek”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records textile onion in 14 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

South Dakota counties with USDA records: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Butte, Campbell, Charles Mix, Corson, Custer, Davison, Day, Deuel, Dewey, Douglas, Fall River, Hand, Harding, Hutchinson, Jackson, Jerauld, Lawrence, Marshall, McCook, Meade, Mellette, Minnehaha, Pennington, Spink, Todd, Walworth.

North Dakota counties with USDA records: Adams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Divide, Dunn, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Ward, Wells, Williams.

More South Dakota flowers

Sources