SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Allium tricoccum

Wild Leek

$3.00 - $450.00

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$7.50
1/4 oz.
$12.00
1/2 oz.
$19.50
1 oz.
$30.00
1 lb.
$450.00

Bare Root Plants
Out of Stock

Bare Root Plants (Bulbs) ship Early Spring and Fall **
**Fall and early spring is the best transplanting window. This timeframe ensures that our Minnesota-grown Wild Leeks make it out of our garden beds and into yours before they start to grow, allowing for an adjustment period on site.  If you cannot receive your order and transplant Leeks the first 2 weeks of April, please note "Fall Delivery" in the ORDER INSTRUCTIONS box when placing your online order and we can delay the shipment until October.

Wild Leeks are renowned for their edible bulbs and leaves that have a mild onion flavor.  The foliage dies back as the flower stalk emerges. Throughout June and July, buds burst out of their papery confines and open to reveal creamy-white flowers that bloom in a bountiful, domed cluster.  This species provides welcome pops of brightness in the shade garden after most ephemerals are spent.  As the summer months progress, the blossoms dry and showcase pearly black seeds.  This seedhead will often persist throughout the fall and winter months.  

This plant prefers typical woodland conditions with dappled sunlight sustaining the Wild Leek's foliage in early spring, and deeper shade as the trees leaf out while the plant flowers.  Rich, medium-wet to medium-dry soil containing plenty of organic material are needed. Soils that do not drain well or have a heavy clay component are not ideal and the Leek will likely not thrive. Our native Wild Leek does not hold up well to competition; as such, it is often used as an indicator species to identify orginal or minimally disturbed wooded sites. Simply having a shade site is not enough; consider this plant only if you have the conditions listed above.

Also known as “Ramps,” Allium tricoccum is quite popular among foodies and foragers alike.  Although plentiful in some areas, Wild Leeks face the same pressures as many other woodland plants, such as encroachment by invasive species, development, and over-collection.  Whether gathering from a wild source or private property, conserve the patch by clipping only a few leaves from each plant instead of digging out the whole bulb.  Interested in growing your own personal ramp patch?  Bare roots mature and are ready for eating within a few years.  Want a challenge?  Plant these seeds as an investment in the future: it can take 5 to7 years from successful germination to harvest. 

*This species (in seed) may be difficult and/or slow to germinate and grow to maturity.  Please note the germination code, right.

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots (Bulbs)
**MUST SHIP first half of April October 2-3 years

**We favor fall plantings for these bare root bulbs, but early spring is also a great transplanting window.  This timeframe ensures that our Minnesota-grown Wild Leeks make it out of our beds and into yours before they start to grow, allowing for an adjustment period on site.  If you cannot receive your order and transplant Leeks the first 2 weeks of April, please note "Fall Delivery" in the ORDER INSTRUCTIONS box when placing your online order and we can delay the shipment until October.

Allium tricoccum - Wild Leek

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

6 Questions asked on Allium tricoccum

How likely is it I might be successful growing ramps in California?
In a controlled environment it might be possible, but if you take a look at the 'RANGE MAP' tab, above, you can see that Ramps' range is very much in the NE to Midwest climates. It did not extend south or west in the US, so in a wild spot in CA, we wouldn't recommend it.
Is this plant juglone tolerant?
Hi Wendy. Yes! We actually have an entire subcategory of native plants that can be planted under Black Walnut and trees that produce juglone: prairiemoon.com/black-walnut-tolerant
Hi, Will rabbits eat these? Cheers, Cori
HI Cori. No, rabbits should steer clear of anything in the Allium (Onion) family. Our 'deer resistant' icon assignment usually means rabbits also won't bother the plant.
Is this a plant that supports our pollinators or birds?
Hi Brenda. Yes, the Allium species are known for attracting many different native bees. John Hilty's ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS site always does a great job of listing the various insects that visit a native plant.
Have these seeds experienced the warmth requirement? Can I start with the moist cold stratification?
Hi Kay. We do not stratify any of our seeds; the Wild Leek will need to experience warm, moist conditions followed by and a cold, moist period in order to germinate.
Why is this species listed as noxious in some states?
The range maps we list on our websites are sourced from BONAP, a non-profit group that does an amazing amount of research to compile such detailed maps – then graciously shares their findings. They comb through historical documentation dating back over 100 years and incorporate current USDA listings to determine the native ranges of plant species. These maps also highlight counties that cite a species as ‘noxious.’ More often than not, native plant species that make the ‘noxious weed’ list are included for agricultural regulations or reasons, although those reasons are not always made apparent. Some states include ALL Alliums on their noxious weed lists – native and non-native, alike.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
30
Seeds/Ounce
1,400
Germination Code
E
?
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Partial, Shade
Soil Moisture
Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height
8 inches
Bloom Time
June, July
Bloom Color
White
Advantages
Deer Resistant
Highly recommended for home landscaping
USDA Zones
3-7
Plant Spacing
4-8"
Catalog Code
ALL08F