Allium ursinum
ramsons
Vigorous, garlic-scented, bulbous perennial forming extensive colonies, with paired, elliptic leaves and erect stems bearing umbels of starry white flowers in late spring. Often naturalised in woodland, this attractive but rather weedy onion, native to Europe and Asia is occasionally cultivated intentionally but invariably becomes a nuisance, as it spreads freely by both bulbils and seeds
Other common names
bear's garlicbuckrams
see moregipsy onion
hog's garlic
ramsomes
wild garlic
wild leek
wood garlic
Synonyms
Allium ucrainicum
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to the UK
- Yes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Europe, Russia
How to grow
Cultivation
Easy to grow in fertile well-drained soil, but this species spreads easily and has the potential to become a nuisance see wild garlic control
Propagation
Propagate by seed or division
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildlife gardens
- Wildflower meadow
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free but may be susceptible to onion white rot and downy mildews
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