Nodding onion best grows in USDA zones 4-8. These plants can grow up to 1-2 feet and spread from 0.5 inches to 1 foot (1). Nodding Onion grows best in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. They are highly adaptive and do well in urban environments. Nodding Onion should be planted during the Fall or Spring as their blooming season starts in July and ends in August. Nodding Onion is a low maintenance plant as it only needs to be pruned after flowering (5). Plants usually go dormant after they bloom. These plants are not sensitive to harsh weather conditions. Nodding onions also do not have many pests associated with them as well.

Culinary and/or Medicinal Uses

Nodding Onion can be dried and combined with hot water to make a poultice to treat respiratory issues. This poultice can also be applied onto areas that are sore and swelling such as the throat or the chest (3). The juice can be used to treat kidney stones, sore throats, colds, and croup. The plant is delicious and tastes strongly of onion. The bulb (raw or cooked) can be used for flavoring food. The leaves and flowers (raw or cooked) can be eaten as well. Dogs should not eat large amounts of this or they will experience poisoning (2).

Significance to Cultural Communities

Nodding Onion is native to North America, primarily in slopes and open woods in Mexico, Canada, and the midwest region of the United States. Many claim the city of Chicago’s name originates from the plant. Chicago used to be a marsh land full of many onions, Nodding Onion being one of them (3). This caused Chicago to smell of onions. Many Native American tribes had different names and phrases for the scent of their land and the causes of the scent. Nodding Onion dawned the name Chigagou given by the Miami and Algonquin(4). 

Community Voice

How was the Plant Used? “Yes, nodding onion can be used as medicine, but sometimes plants were just food … used for stomach pain sometimes but mostly for soup” - Eli. “I don’t really use it other than going outside , picking it and eating it.” - Fawn. The Crow Nation used nodding onion as a fertilizer in combination with other green fertilizers for tobacco and other crops, especially when the soil was poor quality. These stories were collected in the Summer of 2017

[Excerpt from the Shikaakwa Scrapbook created by the UIC Heritage Garden]

References

1.“Allium cernuum Nodding onion”. New Moon Nursery. Accessed February 11 2019. <http://www.newmoonnursery.com/plant/Allium-cernuum>

2. “Medicinal Herbs: NODDING ONION - Allium Cernuum.”Medicinal Herbs - Natural Healing Power.  Accessed February 11, 2019. <http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/hehttp://www.newmoonnursery.com/plant/Allium-cernuumrbs/a/allium-cernuum=nodding-onion.php>

3.“Indigenous Teachings & Learning Gardens Nodding Onion”.University of Alberta. Date Accessed February 11 2019. 

<https://sites.google.com/a/ualberta.ca/our-garden/our-plants/nodding-onion>

4. “Nodding Onion Allium Cernuum.” River City Grand Rapids. Accessed February 11 2019.<https://rivercitygrandrapids.wildones.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2015/10/Nodding-Onion.pdf>

5. “Nodding Wild Onion (Allium Cernuum).Hort Answers University of Illinois Extension. Accessed February 11th 2019. <http://extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=795&PlantTypeID=14 >