Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) is a perennial plant with an odor of garlic which develops from a basal bulb covered by a membranous coat. At maturity, the bulb is covered with small yellowish bulbs, flattened on one side, which readily split apart. Leaves are hollow and round. The greenish pink to purplish flowers are borne in clusters at the stem tip and are often mixed among small greenish aerial bulblets.

Perennial turf weeds are capable of living more than two years. They thrive in weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and industrial grounds. Proper turf maintenance is the key to control of this weed. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth.

• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • perennial weed
• GROWTH HABIT
  • upright
• LEAFLET NUMBER
  • upright leaves are slender, round, and hollow and resemble grass blades
• LEAF MARGIN
  • smooth
• LEAF HAIRS
  • none
• LEAF / LEAFLET SHAPE
  • linear/oblong
• LEAF WIDTH
  • <¹⁄₂ inch
• LEAF VENATION
  • parallel
• ROOT TYPE
  • bulbous; fibrous roots are attached to the bottom of the bulb
    Figure 1
• FLOWER COLOR
  • greenish pink to purple
    Figure 2, Figure 3

Figure 1. Wild garlic root type.

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Figure 1. Wild garlic root type.

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Figure 2. Wild garlic.

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Figure 2. Wild garlic.

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Figure 3. Wild garlic.

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Figure 3. Wild garlic.

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