This onion, one of 12 onion species in Arizona, occurs in the White, Santa Catalina, and Chuska Mountains there. It also occurs in the Mogollon Mountains and Sierra Blanca of New Mexico. It grows in Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium myrtillus plant communities at upper elevations and Abies concolor/Pseudotsuga menziesii/Poa pratensis communities in the lower. In some areas, it dominates the understory.