Wild Garlic (Allium canadense)
AL-lee-um kan-ah-DEN-see

Deciduous Perennial Clumping-forming in the Amaryllidaceae Family
Sparse cluster of grass-like leaves and its flowering stalk grow from a bulb. From between leaves rises a stem topped by a dome-like cluster of star-shaped pink or whitish flowers; plant has strong onion-like odor.
Allium canadense is a bulbous perennial native to nearly every county in Illinois and found across most of eastern and central North America, where it is the most common native wild onion. It grows readily in prairies, meadows, open woods, and even lawns, spreading by underground bulb offsets and, distinctively, by aerial bulblets that form within the flower cluster itself - a reliable identification feature that separates this species from other native onions. The pink or white, star-shaped flowers appear in early summer and, along with the bulbs and leaves, are edible with a mild onion flavor, though the plant is best known to most gardeners as a common, if unassuming, lawn and meadow wildflower.

Pros

  • Genuinely native to every county in Illinois, supporting bees and other pollinators
  • Adapts to sun or shade and almost any soil, from clay to sand
  • Deer and rabbit resistant

Cons

  • Spreads aggressively by bulb offsets and aerial bulblets and can become a persistent lawn or garden weed
  • Considered a noxious weed in some states outside Illinois
  • Like all alliums, potentially toxic to cats, dogs, and livestock if eaten in quantity
Why Like One of the most widespread native onions in Illinois, found in every county, Wild Garlic is a reliable early-summer nectar source for bees and other pollinators and asks for nothing in return - it thrives in sun or shade and in almost any soil. Its bulbs, leaves, and flowers are all edible, with a mild onion flavor, and it has a long history of use as a foraged wild edible.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 8 - 12 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Tolerates dry to medium-wet conditions; quite adaptable once established.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Bulbs for Fall Planting, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Extended Bloom Time, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Groundcover, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Ornamental, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period May-July
Flower Color Pink
Foliage Color Green
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 06/25

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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