Taxon Report

Allium shevockii D. McNeal

Spanish Needle onion

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Taxon Summary

Allium shevockii, commonly known as Spanish Needle onion, is a perennial bulbiferous herb in the Alliaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Pinyon and juniper woodland, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 850 to 2500 meters. Allium shevockii is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Allium shevockii D. McNeal
Common Name:	Spanish Needle onion
Family:	Alliaceae
Element Code:	PMLIL022M0
USDA Plants Symbol:	ALSH
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial bulbiferous herb
Blooming Period: May-Jun	May-Jun
Elevation:	850-2500 (2790-8205)
General Habitats:	Pinyon and juniper woodland, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Rocky
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; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	12
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	9
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	2

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cinco (3511831), Cross Mountain (3511832), Emerald Mtn. (3511833), Lamont Peak (3511871), Tehachapi NE (3511823)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	5
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	6	50 %
Development	3	25%
Grazing	3	25%
Other	3	25%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	3	25%
Road/trail construction/maint.	3	25%

Notes



See Madroño 34(2):150-154 (1987) for original description.
Threats:
Threatened by renewable energy development.
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 25 October 2025].