Wild Leek Allium tuberosum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wild Leek:
- Phonetic Spelling
- AL-ee-um too-ber-OH-sum
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Garlic Chives or Wild Leeks are a bulbous perennial herb with characteristic onion or garlic odor. It is found in rich, moist forests and natural areas. Grown for both ornamental and culinary uses, garlic chives are a great addition to edible landscapes. Showy cream flowers appear above the clumps of strappy green leaves in the early summer.
They are best grown in a pot to limit their spread or grown in a naturalized area. Deadhead to prevent unwanted self-seeding.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Bulb rot can occur in too wet soils. Bulb mites can occur.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Herb & Flower Cottage Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Allium
- Species:
- tuberosum
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Himalaya to China
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract pollinators
- Edibility:
- Leaves, bulbs and flowers are edible. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Cool Season Vegetable
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Umbel of 25 to 55 small, pale yellow to cream, bell-shaped flowers with 6 petals in a tight cluster on 6 to 15 in. naked stem. The flowers have cup-like petals and sepals.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Flat linear green leaves in a basal rosette up to 12 inches long. Galic taste and odor.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Round hollow green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Humidity
- Insect Pests
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
