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Wild Garlic

Alium ursinum

Months

Season

Colour

Habitat

Also known as ‘Ramsons’, snowy clusters of this pungent wild flower are a common sight in woods in the spring.

If you don’t immediately see it, you can usually smell it – wild garlic has a strong oniony scent that becomes stronger if you crush the leaves. It is a favourite with foragers but be sure not to eat the roots: eating them can have an unpleasant effect on the stomach.

Distribution

Common across the UK apart from north-east Scotland.

Habitat

Damp woodland

Best time to see

When in bloom, April to June.

Did you know?

‘Ramsons’ is an evolution of the plant’s Old English name: hramsa. The plural of hramsa was hramsan – so ‘ramsons’ is actually a double plural!

Other Species

Bluebell
Bluebell close-up.

Bluebell

Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Bugle
A close up of a blue bugle plant.

Bugle

Ajuga reptans

Cowslip
Cowslip Close Up.

Cowslip

Primula Veris