Canadian garlic, Meadow Garlic
Allium canadense var. mobilense

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

An onion family plant. It is a bulb plant. It grows to 50 cm high. The bulb is 30 mm across. The stem is 15-20 cm long and hollow. It has an onion scent. There are 3 or more leaves from the base. They are about 15-20 cm long and 2-3 mm wide. The flowers cluster at the top of the stem. The individual flowers have stems 3-25 mm long.

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 grows best in open unshaded areas. It grows naturally on moist soils in prairies in South-eastern North America from North Carolina to Florida.

Countries/locations it is found in

North America, USA

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 to flavour salads.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, bulb

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by dividing the clumps.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Allium arenicola Small; Allium microscordion Small; Allium mobilense Regel; Allium mutabile Michx.; Allium zenobiae Cory;