Flower profile
Wide leek
Allium tricoccum
Wide leek is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Connecticut, Michigan, Vermont
Quick look
Allium tricoccum is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae. It is a North American species of wild onion or garlic found in eastern North America. Many of the common English names for this plant are also used for other Allium species, particularly the similar Allium ursinum, which is native to Eurasia.
- It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 29 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Michigan, Vermont and Connecticut. NatureServe
- In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
- In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,655 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #98 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,037 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #86 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 506 research-grade sightings of it in Connecticut, ranking #93 among the 111 flowers on our Connecticut list. iNaturalist
Wide leek gift ideas
Handmade wide leek gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Wide leek art print
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Wide leek greeting card
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Wide leek mug
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Wide leek earrings
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Wide leek embroidery pattern
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Wide leek sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Native | July–August | 1,655 |
| Vermont | Native | June–July | 1,037 |
| Connecticut | Native | June–July | 506 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Michigan
- Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
- Vermont
- Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
- Connecticut
- Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “Leaves, stems and bulbs have garlic onion flavor high in vitamin C. If harvesting in the wild, leave the bulbs and one leaf in the ground to promote sustainablity.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Allium ampeloprasum (“Leek”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records wide leek in 29 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.
Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Benzie, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ontonagon, Osceola, Otsego, Ottawa, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, Wexford.
Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.
More Michigan flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ALTR3.
- iNaturalist, Allium tricoccum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Allium tricoccum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
- Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
- Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
- Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
- Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
- Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Allium tricoccum (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.