Royal Star Magnolia vs Nodding Onion - TreeTime.ca

Royal Star Magnolia vs Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Magnolia stellata Royal Star

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

(we don't know if or when this product will be restocked)

Nodding Onion
Royal Star Magnolia

Nodding Onion is a native perennial wildflower known for its nodding clusters of flowers that range in color from white to pink to purple. The lightly scented blooms provide pollen and nectar for pollinators, especially bees, which can collect while hanging upside down, a capability most other insects lack.

The narrow, grass-like leaves of the Nodding Onion can be used as a seasoning in cooked dishes, though bulbs and raw leaves should not be eaten in large quantities. All parts of the plant have an onion-like aroma when bruised, which helps deter deer and rabbits. They can self-seed readily, so removing spent blooms helps manage their spread. Tolerant of a range of soils, including alkaline, it is well-suited for a variety of plantings, including pollinator gardens and naturalization projects.

The Royal Star Magnolia, or Star Magnolia, is an early-blooming, white fragrant flower. It has a form that resembles a starburst, hence the name. This multi-stemmed deciduous shrub is extremely popular and has won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

The Royal Star Magnolia attracts birds and butterflies to your garden, with their large, showy flowers blooming even before it’s foliage which features a medium green leaf. They prefer slightly acidic soils.

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Nodding Onion Quick Facts

Royal Star Magnolia Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to spreading, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - high
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: raw leaves and bulbs can be midly toxic

Foliage: smells of onion when crushed, edible
Flowers: white, pink, or purple nodding clusters
Flowers: lare, white, showy
Bloom time: late spring to summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Other Names: ladys leek, nodding wild onion
Other Names: star magnolia