Plant Names
Allium canadense
Canada Garlic
Ail du Canada
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Pink
Bloom Period: May - Jun
Max Height: 1.5 feet
Max Width: 0.75 feet
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Landscape Uses:
No landscape information available.
Ecological Benefits:
No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is a GRASP candidate
This plant is a GRASP candidate
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
A hardy plant, also known as wild garlic, first sends up leaves and then aerial bulblets with white and pink blooms. The plant produces a strong, onion-like odour when the leaves are crushed or mowed. It is a very versatile plant that can spread aggressively in ideal conditions. While it prefers more sun, it will grow in shaded areas (but not deep shade as it will not flower).
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Allium canadense
No butterfly data available for this plant.
Specialized Bees Supported by Allium canadense
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- No complementary plants found.
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
No substitute plant data available for this plant.
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: July
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are brown, seeds are dark, and crisp, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
- Harvesting:
- Open the pod, remove seeds
- Seed viability test:
- None
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air Dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: None
- Remove non-seed material
- No harvesting video available at this time.
GRASP Candidate
Rare/endangered native plants within 50km radius of Ottawa approximately. Burton is anchor study, plus iNaturalist observations to corroborate if any recent spotting.