Edible plant - novice Season - late winter to late spring Common names Wild garlic, ramsons, bear's garlic, bear's leek, wood garlic, broad-leaf garlic, stink bombs, buckrams
Scientific name meaning: Allium is the Latin word for garlic, although its original derivation is unclear. Ursinum means bear-like or of bears and refers to bears eating wild garlic bulb when they emerge from hibernation
Habitat  Wild garlic loves damp shady places. It can be found in woodlands and grass verges, particularly if there is a water source. It is found across Europe and in some arts of Asia. |
Overall structure  Usually found in large drifts containing many tens of thousands of plants. Each plant forms from a bulb and produces a 2 to 3 lance shaped leaves. These are flowered by flowers stalks to 45cm tall with umbels of white star-like flowers. |
Leaves  The leaves are a rich green and lance-shaped, known as lanceolate, and have parallel veins. They appear in clumps as they emerge from bulbs underground. There are 2 to 3 leaves per bulb and one leaf per leaf stem. The leaves smell strongly of chives/garlic when crushed. |
Stem  The flower stalks emerge in springtime and have a weakly triangular cross section. The stem smells strongly of chives/garlic when crushed. It has no stem leaves and is hairless. |
Flowers  The flowers are arranged on an umbel with erect rays forming a sphere. When forming, the inflorescence is encased in a spathe of two papery bracts. Each flower is white and has six-petals. It aroma of the flowers is weekly of chives/garlic. |
Seeds  The seeds, which ripen to black, appear in a three-sectioned pod from late spring. These look like three balls joined together in a triangle. |
Possible lookalikes  Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), pictured, which is deadly poisonous, could be confused with wild garlic. It does not smell of garlic when crushed, has dangling bell like flowers and two leaves per leaf stem. The irritant lords and ladies (Arum maculatum) could also be confused. It also lacks a garlic smell when crushed, and has tailed leaves with reticulate (net like) veins.
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Use as a food All parts of wild garlic are edible, so it has a lot of uses in food. However, the bulb is rather small and fiddly to clean and does not taste great. Digging up of the bulb on common land or without the landowner's permission on private land is illegal.
The leaves have a mild garlic flavour and can be eaten raw or cooked. If harvested in an area that has been potentially recently flooded by a river, stream or run off from grazed fields, remember the risk of liver fluke. Boiling would be required in this scenario.
The leaves can be used raw in salads or pesto, or fermented. They can be cooked but it is best to cook them for as little time as possible as they lose their delicate flavour quickly.
The flower stalks, buds and flowers have a stronger flavour and can be used raw or cooked. Good uses include pickling and adding to salads, where they are as decorative as tasty.
The seeds can be used green to pack a garlicky punch to a salad or warm dish or to make capers with. When the seeds ripen, they can be ground using a spice mill for use as seasoning Use in herbal medicine and medicine Although not having as strong an action, wild garlic has similar health benefits to domestic garlic (Allium sativum). It is used for general health promotion, reducing high blood pressure and reducing blood cholesterol.
Wild garlic has been used to treat internal parasites, asthma, fits and spasms, water retention, hypertension, skin redness, fevers, and coughs. It has also believed to be and antiseptic and styptic
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner.
Hazards Can be toxic in excessively large amounts. It is worth remembering that to companion animals, such as dogs and cats, wild garlic can be fatal if consumed
Other uses None known Importance to other species The flowers are visited by various pollinators, while badgers and squirrels eat the bulbs. The leaves form habitat for several rare species of snail
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!
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