Field Garlic (Allium vineale)

Allium vineale is known by the common names Field Garlic, Wild Garlic or Crow Garlic. It is the second of three onion-like species that grows in this area; the others are the False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve) and the Broadleaf Wild Leek (Allium ampeloprasum). Field Garlic is widespread. At Fort Yargo State Park, it grows along the trail from the boat launch at Section B (segment 2) where the trail meets the gas pipeline and where the trail crosses the draining creek that flows down to the lake. These plants are pretty but are considered weeds because of their strong garlic flavor which ‘contaminates’ grasses in and renders them useless for grazing livestock commercially.

A patch of developing plants. These were photographed along the trail from the boat launch at Section B, Fort Yargo State Park where the trail meets the pipeline right of way.

A developing flower head. It is similar to the Nothoscordum bivalve bud.

A flower head that is ready to open.

Bulblets starting to sprout.

These bulblets have sprouted but not developed flowerlets.

Some flower heads occur as doubles. Flowerlets are developing on one of these.

Some flower heads occur as triples; these are relatively rare.

Many plants develop flower heads with flowerlets. Flowerlets are green at first than then turn pink or purple. One flowerlet at the top is turning pink.

Flowerlets turning pink-purple.

Flowerlets up close and in profile

Flowerlets up close, from above

Finished flowering, drying up.

Allium vineale (Field Garlic) is native to Europe and Asia. It grows widely in the the eastern United States and the Pacific coast states including Alaska.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Allium vineale (Wild Garlic)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Allium vineale

Identification resources:
- Missouri Plants: Allium vineale

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index
- False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve)