Allium tricoccum var. tricoccum - Wild Leek, Ramps

Sizes available: HPP quart, currently dormant. These all had good strong leaf production in spring, 2026 and the roots look good

Basics: zones 3-7, 8" x 4-8", part sun to part shade, leaves appear and die back in spring prior to flowering, white-ish/ivory flowers bloom in a loose, small umbel in late spring to early summer, prefers medium wet to medium dry soils, wants good drainage and does not like competition or disturbance. 

Common names: Ramps, Wild Leek

Family: Alliacaeae

Origin/Distribution: Occurs in western New Brunswick down through all of New England south to Maryland and the mountains of Georgia and Tennessee. Also found further northwest into Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota and southern Quebec. Native to Maine.

Habitat: Grows in deciduous woods, rich and moist, and can tolerate a wooded floodplain but is also found in upland woods. Localized, but sometimes abundant populations.

More: The onion-scented leaves are edible and this plant is over-harvested in wild habitats. Land development and invasive species as well as its popularity as a choice edible plant is putting considerable pressure on wild populations. If you harvest from your own garden (or anywhere else), DO NOT PULL THE PLANT UP. Clip one leaf per plant and leave the other leaves to nourish the bulb. Keeping the bulb in the ground ensures a continuing population. Give these plants a lot of space as they do not like competition. Seed germination is challenging and it takes 5-7 years before you can harvest from a seed-grown plant. A bare root plant will be able to be harvested in 2-3 years. These were bare root plants and I have been growing them on for 6 months (as of August, 2026). They leafed out well this spring and a couple even bloomed. Has also been used medicinally and can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. 

Source: Bare roots from Prairie Moon Nursery, grown on at Honey petal Plants

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons