SafePlants

Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)

Wild garlic, scientifically known as Allium ursinum, is a flavorful wild plant gaining popularity in culinary circles. It's a wild relative of chives and offers a unique garlic flavor to various dishes.

Common Names

• Ramsons
• Buckrams
• Wild Garlic
• Broad-leaved Garlic
• Wood Garlic
• Bear Leek
• Bear's Garlic
• Devil's Garlic
• Gypsy's Onions
• Stinking Jenny

Considerations for Pets

As a member of the Allium family, wild garlic possesses a strong scent, especially when bruised or crushed. It's commonly found in woodlands and gardens, potentially accessible to pets. Additionally, other species of wild garlic may also have small bulbils.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Allium ursinum
• Family: Allium

Distribution and Habitat

Allium ursinum is native to Britain and commonly found in damp woodlands, deciduous woods, forests, fenlands, and near water drainage ditches across the UK, including places like Dorset, the Cotswolds, Bath, and the Forest of Dean. It prefers moist soils and slightly acidic conditions.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• It is a bulbous, perennial plant.
• It spends most of the year as bulbs underground.
• It emerges to flower and leaf from April onwards.
• It produces a haze of white flowers from April to June.
• The leaves are glossy green.
• It flowers before deciduous trees leaf in the spring.
• It has a strong scent of garlic, particularly if bruised or crushed.

Ecological Role

While the text doesn't explicitly label it as invasive, its presence in diverse environments suggests its successful establishment and spread, especially since it is mentioned as a native species to Britain.

Quirky Facts

• Wild garlic has many peculiar identities, including "devil's garlic," "gypsy's onions," and "stinking Jenny."
• The place name and English surname Ramsdale are likely derived from Ramsons, a widespread colloquial name for wild garlic.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It grows in among bluebells.

Culinary Uses

• The leaves are edible and add a garlic flavor to dishes.
• It can be used to make pasta sauce, pesto, and spring salads.
• The flowers can be tied up in bunches.
• It can be used to make wild garlic pesto.
• It pairs well with crab.

Further Information

• Nature's Calendar offers a free fact sheet.
• Riverford provides inspiring seasonal recipes.
• Buy Wild Garlic, Gooseberries and Me: A chef's stories and recipes from the land by Denis Cotter (ISBN: 9780007364060) from Amazon's Book Store.
• Visit www.sacla.co.uk for wild garlic pesto recipe inspiration.