Allium ursinum (Wild garlic)

Botanical name

Allium ursinum

Other names

Wild garlic, Ramsons wild garlic

Genus

Allium Allium

Species

A. ursinum - A. ursinum is an edible, bulbous, perennial groundcover with linear, green leaves appearing in midwinter. It has white flowers in spring and then dies down in early summer.

Foliage

Deciduous

Fragrance

Foliage has a strong garlic fragrance

Habit

Erect, Spreading

Colour

Flower

White in Spring

Foliage

Green in Spring; Green in Winter

How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Pest free, may suffer from slugs on new growth.

Specific diseases

Onion rot

General care

Pruning

No pruning required.

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

Monthly care advice

Where to grow

Allium ursinum (Wild garlic) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Architectural, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Flower Arranging, Gravel

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Add grit to clay soils to improve drainage.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade

Aspect

South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Allium ursinum (Wild garlic)

Common pest name

allium leaf miner

Scientific pest name

Phytomyza gymnostoma

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Pest of Allium already present in UK and spreading; previous consultation supported awareness raising only; industry should prepare for the event of findings in commercial crops.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Allium ursinum (Wild garlic)

Common pest name

Asain cotton leafworm; Cluster caterpillar; Fall armyworm; Rice cutworm; Taro caterpiller; Tobacco budworm; Tobacco caterpillar; Tobacco cutworm; Tobacco leaf caterpillar

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera litura

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Allium ursinum (Wild garlic)

Common pest name

Sugarbeet webworm; Weevil; Australian tomato; Weevil; vegetable

Scientific pest name

Listroderes costirostris

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Awareness needs to be maintained due to the risk of entry as a 'hitchhiker' and monitoring of the pest in countries where it is known to be present.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/