Babbington's leek
Allium ampeloprasum var. babbingtonii

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

An onion family plant. The plant has a bulb and grows up to 1.8 m high. It is 10 cm across. It has more bulbils and fewer flower heads than wild leek.

There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in rocky places near the coast in S.W. England and the Channel Islands. It prefers a sunny position in a light well drained soil. It tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 8.3. It suits hardiness zone 6.

Countries/locations it is found in

Britain, Europe, Ireland

How it is used for food

The bulbs are eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The flowers are used raw or to flavour cooked foods. The small bulbs or bulbils can be used for flavouring or pickles.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, roots, bulbs, bulbils

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by division of clumps or from bulbils.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Allium babbingtonii (Borrer.);