Allium vineale
wild garlic
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia
Overview
Allium vineale is a bulbous perennial 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall arising from a small underground bulb that splits into hard offset bulblets. The leaves are slender, hollow, and nearly cylindrical, 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) long, grooved on one side, and release a strong garlic-onion odour when bruised. In early summer the stem is topped by a rounded umbel that often carries a cluster of small reddish bulbils, sometimes mixed with or replaced by pink to greenish-purple, six-tepalled flowers, the whole head wrapped in a single papery bract before opening. Many of the bulbils sprout while still on the plant, sending out thread-like green shoots. A. vineale spreads by these aerial bulbils, by underground offset bulbs, and by seed, which makes established stands hard to clear. It grows in grassland, roadsides, pastures, and cultivated fields across its range. The plant is regarded as an agricultural weed and taints the milk and meat of grazing livestock.
Native Range
Allium vineale is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east to the Caucasus. It has naturalised widely in North America and Australia, where it is listed as a noxious or invasive weed in many areas.Suggested Uses
Seldom planted intentionally, the leaves are sometimes gathered as a wild garlic substitute in cooking. In most settings it is managed as a weed of lawns, pastures, and arable land. It is rarely grown as a garden plant.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread3" - 6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to purpleFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight