Brodiaea hyacinthina
This bulb-forming perennial native to southwestern North America grows to about 0.7 m, flowers from May to August in well-drained soils, is insect-pollinated, has an edible bulb used as emergency food, and exists in two forms—a large white-flowered wet-site form and a smaller dry-slope form—sources
Common Names
Hyacinth Brodiaea, White Brodiaea, Fool's Onion, Wild Hyacinth
Summary
Brodiaea hyacinthina, commonly called White Brodiaea or Hyacinth Brodiaea, is a bulbous geophyte native to western North America from British Columbia to California and Idaho. It grows from a bulb with long, grasslike basal leaves and a tall flowering stalk bearing an umbel of white flowers, sometimes tinged with lavender and with green central veins on the tepals; it inhabits grasslands and vernally wet meadows, sometimes on drier slopes.
In cultivation, it prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained soils, with moisture in winter and spring and a dry summer to avoid bulb rot. It is hardy to zone 4 and can be propagated by seed or division. Uses include rock gardens and meadow plantings, and the flowers attract bees and butterflies, supporting pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-24 inches
Spread
12-24 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy loam soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
5.2-7.2
Tolerates a wide pH range—from acidic to alkaline
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Dark green to medium green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall foliage color
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Medium growth rate
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees and butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Lindl.) Baker
- Publication
- Gard. Chron. ser. 3, 20: 459. 1896
- Synonym Of
- Triteleia hyacinthina