Flower profile
Wild garlic
Allium vineale
Wild garlic is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: New Jersey, New York
Quick look
Allium vineale is a perennial, bulb-forming species of wild onion, native to Europe, northwestern Africa, and the Middle East. The species was introduced in Australia and North America, where it has become an invasive species.
- 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 introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 37 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to New Jersey and New York. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 2,658 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #29 among the 110 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,415 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #101 among the 109 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
Wild garlic gift ideas
Handmade wild garlic 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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Wild garlic art print
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Wild garlic greeting card
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Wild garlic mug
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Wild garlic earrings
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Wild garlic embroidery pattern
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Wild garlic sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Introduced | few records | 2,658 |
| New York | Introduced | few records | 2,415 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- New Jersey
- Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
- New York
- Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
- 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 lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: flowers, leaves, roots, stems. Symptoms they list: “Only harvest plants with the distinct odor of onions. Can cause low toxicity in humans but has the potential to be poisonous to livestock if consumed excessively. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets…” They also note: “Leaves, flowers, and bulbs. Use similarly to chives or garlic. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.” 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 wild garlic in 37 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.
New Jersey counties with USDA records: Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren.
New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Genesee, Kings, Nassau, New York, Onondaga, Orange, Orleans, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Wayne, Westchester.
More New Jersey flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ALVI.
- iNaturalist, Allium vineale: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Allium vineale (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New Jersey: New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1).
- New Jersey: New Jersey prohibited invasive plant species (Invasive Species Management Act; propagation banned from Jan 1, 2027, sale from Jan 1, 2030).
- New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
- New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Allium vineale (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Elizabeth Axley via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.