The Ohio State University: College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Wild Garlic

Wild Garlic, Allium vineale


Family: Amaryllidaceae; Amaryllis Family

Vegetative Characteristics: 

Seedling: rarely observed from seed, shoots from bulbs and mature leaves identical

Stems: slender, smooth, waxy, 0.3-0.9 m tall, leafy to near middle

Leaves: slender, hollow, nearly round, attached to lower half of stem, mostly 10.0-20.0 cm long

Reproductive Characteristics: 

Inflorescences: greenish white, small, or short stems above aerial bulblets, wholly or partially replaced by bulblets 

Aerial bulblets: wholly or partially replacing flower in umbel; ovoid, usually tipped by long, fragile, rudimentary leaf

Seeds: black, flat on one side, about 3.0 mm long, produced in spring and germinating the following fall, formed only occasionally

Bulbs: round-ovoid, 1.2 cm wide, enclosed within thin membranous sheath

Special Identifying Characteristics: 

erect perennial her reproducing from seeds, aerial bulblets, and underground bulblets; leaves round, hollow; distinctive odor from allyl sulfide imparts a disagreeable flavor and odor to agricultural products such as milk and wheat.