The Scent of the Woods: Wild Garlic

Wild Garlic / Field Garlic (Allium vineale). Lawns, fields, and open woods. Very common in urban and suburban edges.

Safety first

There are poisonous look-alikes (like Star of Bethlehem or Death Camas) which do NOT smell like onion/garlic. If it doesn't smell strongly of allium, DO NOT eat it.

Where to find it

Lawns, fields, and open woods. Very common in urban and suburban edges.

Identification

Looks like clumps of tall, wild grass but with hollow, tubular leaves. The unmistakable scent of onion/garlic when crushed is the definitive identifier.

Harvest and preparation

Leaves, bulbs, and bulbils (topsets).

Use exactly like chives or green onions. Great chopped over eggs, mixed into butter, or blended into a sharp, wild vinaigrette.