Allium ursinum L.

An onion family plant. It is a plant which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30-40 cm high. Plants have a garlic like smell. The bulbs are narrow, white and bottle shaped. There are 2 or 3 leaves on long, white stalks from the base. The bulbs divide to produce a clump. The leaves are bright-green and broadly oval. They taper to the tip and have parallel veins. The flowers are on 2 to 3 angled stems. The flowers are white and star like. The heads can be 6 cm across.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in woods throughout Europe in moist soils especially alkaline soils. The can grow in low light. It is best in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil.

The leaves and bulbs are finely sliced and added to salads. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. They are also used in soups and sauces. They are used in pickles. The flowers can be eaten raw or used as a garnish in salads. The young green bulbils are used as a caper substitute. CAUTION: They should not be eaten in large amounts.

They can be grown from seed or by dividing clumps. Seed needs to be fresh. Seed germinate best at 6°C. Seed should be soaked overnight and planted 1 cm deep.