Wild garlic (Allium canadense)

Wild garlic

Also known as: Wild onion, Canadian garlic

Wild garlic (Allium canadense) is a perennial culinary herb growing throughout North America and often planted in gardens. Wild garlic is cultivated in home gardens in Cuba and other countries but can cause indigestion in young children or those with chronic ingestion. The plant smells strongly of onion and tastes like garlic.

Scientific classification

Species

Wild garlic (Allium canadense)

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Toxic to Humans

Toxicity

Weeds

Weed or not

Perennial

Lifespan

Herb

Plant Type

Spring, Summer

Bloom Time

Late spring, Summer

Harvest Time

0 mm to 30 cm

Plant Height

10 cm

Spread

Green

Leaf Color

2.5 cm

Flower Size

Brown, Copper

Fruit Color

White, Pink, Purple

Flower Color

Spring, Summer

Growth Season

Rapid

Growth Rate

Images of Wild garlic

Distribution of Wild garlic

Distribution Map

Wild garlic is native to the temperate regions of eastern North America. Its range seamlessly extends due to cultivation and it's introduced to parts of the Caribbean. This plant thrives in a variety of habitats from its native locale to new regions where it adapts well outside its traditional range.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Introduced

No species reported

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Habitat

Low woods, thickets and meadows

Hemisphere Trend Curve

Northern

Sorthern

Culture

Garden Use

Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds love wild garlic flowers, making this plant a wonderful addition to pollinator gardens. The delicate pink blossoms are showy and last all through the summer. It's considered edible, so you can grow it in vegetable or herb gardens as well. It's a bit weedy, so gardeners might need to keep an eye on this plant's spread.

Symbolism

Protection, Exorcism, Healing

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Toxicity

Wild garlic is toxic to humans, cats, and dogs. Consumption of any part can cause severe digestive upset in humans, and poisoning in cats and dogs. Symptoms include gastrointestinal distress, lethargy, and more serious signs depending on ingestion amount. Immediate veterinary care is crucial for affected pets. Keep children, impaired individuals, and pets away from this plant.

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Weed Control

Wild garlic is a grass-like weed that grows in the eastern and central United States and Canada in meadows and woods. Though the plant attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, there are better garden plants to choose from as this plant is so difficult to control. It is a noxious weed in Arkansas but does not appear on any state invasive species list. It is poisonous to livestock if consumed excessively, and it taints milk, meat, or eggs with a garlic flavor and smell. To curtail plant spread with a few plants, dig out with a garden trowel but remove underground bulblets as well, or otherwise apply a post-emergence herbicide.

How to Control It

The best time to remove or control wild garlic is before it sets seed, typically in late spring to early summer.

Hand-pulling: Wear gloves and firmly grasp the base of wild garlic, pulling gently to remove the entire root system.
Smothering: Cover the area with a thick layer of mulch or use landscape fabric to prevent wild garlic from receiving sunlight.
Mowing: Regularly mow the area where wild garlic is growing before it flowers, to stop it from seeding.
Diluted Vinegar Solution: Apply a diluted vinegar solution directly onto the foliage of wild garlic during a sunny day to desiccate the leaves.
Contained Cultivation: When deliberately growing wild garlic, plant it in a container or a designated area bordered by deep edging to restrict its spread.

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Quickly Identify Wild garlic

Clumps of slender, grass-like foliage.

Umbel of star-shaped flowers or bulblets.

Bulbous seed capsules less than 1 inch.

Linear, flat leaves with smooth margins.

Stiff, round stem reaching 1-2 feet.

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Care Guide for Wild garlic

Every week

Water

Full sun

Sunlight

0 - 35 ℃

Ideal Temperature

Water: Wild garlic thrives in moist environments, preferring well-hydrated soil with weekly watering for optimal hydration. It can tolerate brief dry spells. Grown outdoors, it benefits from adequate watering during the growing season to support its clump-forming habit and enhance its pungent aroma.

Fertilize: For wild garlic, use high-nitrogen fertilizers in early spring to promote growth and bulb development. Apply a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season, tapering off in late summer. Utilize slow-release formulas and water post-application for optimal nutrient absorption.

Pruning: Wild garlic thrives with regular pruning, ideally in early to late spring. Focus on removing dead leaves and thinning clumps for better air circulation and health. This practice enhances bulb production and minimizes disease risk, essential for successful cultivation of wild garlic.

Propagation: Wild garlic propagates mainly through tubers, preferably in spring. This easy process yields new shoots and healthy roots as success indicators. Maintaining appropriate soil moisture is crucial during propagation.

Repotting: Wild garlic requires excellent drainage in pots to thrive and avoid waterlogging, which can damage the roots.

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