Hedge Garlic

First Year Leaves

Hedge garlic is biennial and in its first years growth the leaves grow in a small, ground level rosette with broad heart shaped leaves.

Second Year Leaves

In its second year a spike grows from the rosette and the leaves are more arrow head shaped with serrated edges.

Flowers

Groups of tiny, white, four petalled flowers grow from the top of the flower spike.

Flower Stem

In its second years growth a flower stem grows vertically, up to one and a half metres, from the leaf rosette with flowers on the top leaving behind seed pods.

Seed Pods

The seed pods are thin, green, erect and start to emerge from the middle of the flowers.

Habitat

Hedgerows, woodland, shady scrub and path edges.

Possible Confusion

Once the flowers are out it is difficult to confuse with much else, the smell helps.

Smell

Mild garlic smell when crushed.

Taste

Mildly garlicy with a hint of mustard, this plant divides us as one of us thinks it has a horrible after taste the other enjoys this, it also splits opinion when we take out foraging groups but with the use of a tasty dressing, nobody seems to mind its inclusion in salads.

Frequency

Common.

Collecting

The young first years leaves or from the top of the plant in its second year are best and along with the flowers and flower buds help make an attractive and tasty salad.

The seeds can be used as mustard.

The roots at the end of the second years growth taste like mild horseradish.

Medicinal Uses

Said be used as a tonic to help asthma, rheumatism and gout it also has diuretic properties.