Woodland plants · Allium ursinum
Discover wild garlic
A carpet of green leaves and white flowers: Flauschi shows Puschel wild garlic. They watch from the path; similar plants can be poisonous.
The short answer
Wild garlic has broad pointed leaves and clusters of white flowers. Dangerous plants can look similar. A picture or smell alone is not enough for safe identification. We do not taste unknown leaves.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
Flauschi points out a carpet of long leaves and white flowers.
Puschel wants to remember the broad leaves. Flauschi“Recognising just one leaf is not enough,” says Flauschi. Similar leaves can belong to poisonous plants. Puschel keeps his paws to himself: today he takes home a memory, not a plant.
Plant clues
Three things to notice
Broad leaves
Separate broad, pointed leaves grow from the ground.
White star flowers
Flowers form loose clusters, usually with six white petals.
Damp woodland
Wild garlic often grows in damp, nutrient-rich deciduous woodland.
Mini quiz
What do you remember?
1. What shape are wild garlic leaves?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)Broad leaves
- b)Needle-shaped leaves
- c)Three-part leaves
Show answer
Correct answer: a): Broad leaves Broad leaves
2. Why do the friends not pick wild garlic for a spontaneous taste?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)Similar leaves can be poisonous
- b)White flowers make every plant edible
- c)The name alone identifies it safely
Show answer
Correct answer: a): Similar leaves can be poisonous Similar leaves can be poisonous
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
Why is a garlic smell not enough?
Wild garlic can be confused with poisonous plants, including lily of the valley and autumn crocus. Rubbing leaves can leave a garlic smell on your fingers, making the next, unrelated leaf seem to smell the same. Smell alone can therefore be dangerously misleading.
Compare and understand
Wild garlic grows from a bulb that stores reserves for leaves and flowers. Its leaves may disappear again in summer. Observe from the path and leave plants where they grow. For cooking, use safely selected wild garlic, not leaves collected using a children’s illustration.