Ramp is a perennial wild onion native to eastern North America, grown from clusters of small bulbs that send up broad green leaves in spring. Grow it in cool, moist, humus-rich woodland soil in shade, and allow it several years to establish.
Family
Amaryllidaceae (Daffodil & onion family)
Grows as
Bulb, Perennial
Light
Shade, Part shade
Water
Keep soil consistently moist in spring while leaves are growing, and avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Rich, humus-rich, well-drained but moist woodland soil.
Temperature
Hardy in cold climates; plants go dormant in summer heat and need a cold winter period.
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Not known to be toxic
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
E. Canada to NC. & E. U.S.A.
Climate
temperate
About
Allium tricoccum (commonly known as ramps, ramson, wild leek, wood leek, or wild garlic) is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae. It is a North American species of wild onion or garlic found in eastern North America. Many of the common English names for this plant are also used for other Allium species, particularly the similar Allium ursinum, which is native to Eurasia. An edible plant, Allium tricoccum is used in a variety of North American and indigenous cuisines, and has also been used by Native Americans in traditional medicine. A French rendering (chicagou) of a Miami–Illinois name for this plant is the namesake of the American city of Chicago.
Where it grows
The species is widespread across eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Uses
Allium tricoccum is popular in the cuisines of the rural uplands of its native region. Both the white lower leaf stalks and the broad green leaves are edible. It is regarded as an early spring vegetable with a strong garlic-like odor and a pronounced onion flavor. Ramps also have a growing popularity in restaurants throughout North America.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Allium tricoccum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.