The Onion-Like Wild Herb You May Be Able To Forage From Your Yard

Ramps — also known as wild leeks, spring onions, and the scientific name Allium tricoccum — are one of spring's trendiest wild plants. Just one search for them on social media will prove how popular they've gotten in the last few years among cooking and foraging communities. Belonging to the onion family, ramps have a distinct onion-garlic aroma that will give their presence away long before you spot them. And you can spot them by identifying their smooth and broad leaves. Just be cautious since they can resemble another plant – lily of the valley. However, unlike that very toxic look-alike, ramps are an entirely edible seasonal delight found across woodlands, and even in back gardens, across North America.

In the wild, ramps grow in cool, shady forests with moist, fertile soil, and they also tend to grow in colonies that return year after year. Unlike fast-spreading invasive herbs, ramps grow slowly and deliberately. In fact, their colonies can take years to get established, which is part of why they feel so special if you discover them. Some lucky people who have the right conditions, such as shade (or a little patience to grow them), may find them popping up quietly in corners of their yards.

If you are looking to encourage ramps to grow in your garden, it's all about recreating their woodland environment: They like dappled shade, cooler springtime temperatures, and soil that is enriched with lots of organic matter. You can plant their bulbs or seeds in a shaded bed or area if it has the rest of these conditions, but be warned that it may take several years before the patch is established since ramps naturalize slowly, forming clumps that expand at their own pace. So gardeners who let the plants flower and reseed may have better luck getting them established over time.

Because wild populations have been depleted by too much harvesting, once you have ramps, protecting them becomes as important as growing them. Always harvest them lightly — never take an entire clump. This will help maintain balance and ensure the patch can return in the spring. Additionally, adding some mulch may help by mimicking their natural forest floor blanket and providing steady nutrients, similar to care for trees. For those growing bigger herb beds, ramps will fit beautifully alongside other perennials. There are even other wild herbs you may be able to forage from your own garden, such as wood sorrell. 

Once you have them growing, educate yourself on how to harvest and store your garden herbs so they last longer, and continue to treat these plants with care. If you do so, ramps can transform overlooked shaded garden spaces into very special areas indeed.