EN

Welsh Onion

Allium fistulosum

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Welsh Onion faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat conversion for intensive agriculture and urban development across its native range in East Asia. Wild populations are increasingly fragmented by infrastructure development, while genetic diversity is threatened by hybridization with cultivated varieties that have escaped cultivation. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns in its mountainous habitats, affecting the species' specialized moisture requirements during critical growing periods.

Threat summary

Habitat

Welsh Onion naturally occurs in moist mountain meadows, grasslands, and forest edges at elevations between 200-3,000 meters across temperate regions of East Asia. The species requires well-drained but consistently moist soils and partial shade conditions typically found in transitional zones between forested and open habitats.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Amaryllidaceae

CR

Plagiolirion horsmannii

Unknown
EN

Crinum oliganthum

Unknown
Summer snowflakeEN

Summer snowflake

Leucojum aestivum

Unknown
Allium lineareEN

Allium lineare

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Welsh Onion classified as Endangered?
Welsh Onion is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Welsh Onion faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat conversion for intensive agriculture and urban development across its native range in East Asia. Wild populations are increasingly fragmented by infrastructure development, while genetic diversity is threatened by hybridization with cultivated varieties that have escaped cultivation. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns in its mountainous habitats, affecting the species' specialized moisture requirements during critical growing periods.
Where does Welsh Onion live?
Welsh Onion occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Welsh Onion?
The main threats to Welsh Onion are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.