Taxon Report

Allium sharsmithiae (Ownbey & Aase) McNeal

Sharsmith's onion

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Allium sharsmithiae, commonly known as Sharsmith's onion, is a perennial bulbiferous herb in the Alliaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 400 to 1200 meters. Allium sharsmithiae is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Allium sharsmithiae (Ownbey & Aase) McNeal
Common Name:	Sharsmith's onion
Family:	Alliaceae
Element Code:	PMLIL02310
USDA Plants Symbol:	ALSH2
Synonyms/Other Names:	Allium sharsmithae Allium fimbriatum Wats. var. sharsmithiae Ownbey & Aase

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial bulbiferous herb
Blooming Period: Mar-May	Mar-May
Elevation:	400-1200 (1310-3935)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat:	Rocky, Serpentine
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	9
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	3
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	5

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Alameda (ALA), Santa Clara (SCL), Stanislaus (STA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cedar Mtn. (3712155), Eylar Mtn. (3712145), Mt. Boardman (3712144)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	4
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	6	67 %
Mining	3	33%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	22%
Feral pigs	1	11%
Over-collecting/poaching	1	11%

Notes



Known only from the Mt. Hamilton Range.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 6 December 2025].