Field Garlic

(Allium vineale)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Field Garlic (Allium vineale L.)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Flowers white or pink in a globular cluster mixed with small bulblets. Flowers may be absent and replaced with bulblets with long tails. One or two bracts (spathe) located below flower cluster. Leaves hollow and ascend part way up the flowering stem. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout eastern North America. Also occurs along the Pacific Coast.

Habitat: Field Garlic is found in a variety of disturbed habitats including roadsides, fields, lawns, and along streams.

Flowering period: May - July.

Similar Species: Field Garlic is most likely to be confused with Wild Garlic. The leaves of Wild Garlic are not hollow and do not ascend the flowering stem. The spathe (bracts below the flower cluster) are three-parted.

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