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Ramps

Allium tricoccum

Also known as: Wild Leek

Cherished spring edible with garlic-onion flavor. Smooth lily-like leaves emerge in early spring and die back before the white umbel flowers bloom in summer. Conservation concern from commercial overharvest — sustainable harvest takes only leaves, leaving bulbs intact. As with every onion, very large quantities can cause poisoning, and the genus is especially dangerous to dogs.

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

0.5–1 ft

Spacing

1–2 ft apart

Light

shade

Soil moisture

moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

May, June, July

Bloom colors

white

Wildlife value

pollinators

Landscape uses

border, groundcover, container, erosion control, naturalizing

Native states

AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV