Wild onions (Allium canadense) and wild garlic (Allium vineale) are both common wild plants belonging to the Allium genus, which encompasses various onion, garlic, and leek species. While they share similarities in appearance and habitat, there are distinct differences between the two that aid in their identification. Wild onions typically grow in clusters and have flat, solid leaves emerging from an underground bulb. The leaves are slender, often bluish-green, and can grow up to 20 inches tall.
They produce small white to pale pink flowers clustered in umbrella-shaped heads. Wild onions have a mild onion flavor and are used similarly to cultivated onions in culinary applications. The entire plant, including the bulbs, leaves, and flowers, is edible and can be used in salads, soups, stews, and other dishes. In contrast, wild garlic features long, slender, hollow leaves arising from a bulb. These leaves closely resemble those of chives or cultivated garlic. Wild garlic can grow up to 18 inches tall and produces small white to pale pink flowers clustered in spherical heads.
Growing up, Mother and Daddy always called them wild onions. I never knew about the wild garlic but I believe that is mostly what we had in the yard. I remember the hollow stems when I would pull them up from the ground.
The flavor of wild garlic is stronger and more pungent than that of wild onions, resembling true garlic. Like wild onions, all parts of wild garlic are edible and can be used in cooking. To differentiate between wild onions and wild garlic, one can observe several key characteristics.
Wild onions have flat, solid leaves, while wild garlic has long, slender, hollow leaves. Additionally, wild onions typically have round or slightly flattened leaves, whereas wild garlic leaves are more linear. Another distinguishing factor is the flavor; wild onions have a milder onion taste, while wild garlic has a stronger garlic flavor. Both wild onions and wild garlic can be considered invasive weeds in some regions, spreading rapidly through their bulbs.
If you don’t have 300 plants poking up through your grass, then digging up the bulbs is the most effective way to remove & kill the plant. Also, it can be more effective than chemical, since the herbicide will often fall right off the stalks or leaves, as they are quite narrow. One very important tip is that you should wait until after a rain to dig out the bulbs, as it is much easier in moist/wet ground. And above all else – you must make sure you get all of the bulbs/roots.
Control methods include cultural and chemical approaches. Cultural methods such as hand-pulling or digging up the bulbs can be effective but may require persistence due to the plants’ ability to regrow from small bulb fragments left in the soil. Mulching can help suppress their growth.
Chemical control methods involve the use of herbicides containing glyphosate or 2,4-D, but they should be used cautiously to avoid harming desirable plants and wildlife. In conclusion, wild onions (Allium canadense) and wild garlic (Allium vineale) are two closely related wild plants with distinctive features and culinary uses. Despite being invasive weeds in some areas, they are valued for their edible bulbs, leaves, and flowers.
Proper identification is crucial before consumption, and control measures should be implemented where necessary to manage their spread.
Further Reading
Sources
- Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Allium canadense. Retrieved from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287253&isprofile=1&basic=allium%20canadense
- Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Allium vineale. Retrieved from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c585
- University of Maryland Extension. (n.d.). Wild Garlic. https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/wild-garlic
- Michigan State University Extension. (2015). Managing Wild Garlic in Lawns and Landscapes. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/managing_wild_garlic_in_lawns_and_landscapes
- Illinois Wildflowers. (n.d.). Allium canadense – Wild Onion. http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/wild_onion.htm
- Walter Reeves – The Georgia Gardener “Wild Onion vs Wild Garlic – Control Tips” https://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/wild-onion-vs-wild-garlic/
- Grow It, Build It “Wild Onion Grass & Wild Garlic – Identification and Control” https://growitbuildit.com/how-to-control-wild-onions-garlic-in-your-lawn/
- Wikipedia “Allium canadense” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_canadense
- Wikipedia “Allium vineale” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_vineale
