Both plants are so pretty! As I recall, butterflies nectar on onion flowers. Have any visited yours?

Sherry

No butterflies, but I have seen some bees.

Sorry, Liz but your seed was mislabeled. Definitely not Allium cernuum.

I think I got the same mislabeled seed. I have started nodding onion from seed several times the past few years. They are blooming finally this year and some clumps look like proper nodding onions, while others look like yours here...which look an awful lot like my garlic chives in the veggie garden. I forgot to crush them to see if they smelled like garlic too. But if they are that I plan to remove that clump before next year since I already have garlic chives elsewhere and they are rampant re-seeders needing vigilant deadheading.

There are many different varieties of alliums and all behave similarly. Seedlings will show up everywhere, if you let them go to seed. They are a carefree nectar source that can be in bloom through out the summer season. I have "prairie onions" growing from Prairiemoon Nursery that look very much like the photo you posted. I'm sorry, but I don't keep track of scientific names, as long as they are native and bloom for me, they are welcome.

Martha

Is there a fragrance to the leaves? I grow Chinese Garlic for the late summer blooms and there is a distinctive smell of Garlic to the leaves. I've seen no butterflies on my blooms but the bee's adore it. As you say, rather delicate blooms and quite pretty. If some type of garlic, it will reseed all over so you might want to consider deadheading.

Mary

Thanks for all the comments. It may be Chinese garlic--the leaves definitely have a garlic smell. I think I will purchase some seeds from Prairie Moon for Allium cernuum-- The nodding pink flowers are so pretty. Anybody know when it blooms? I was surprised at how late these were.

Liz