In spring, many people head into the forest to look for wild garlic leaves for pesto, salads or as a spice. But be careful: there are some very similar plants. The leaves of lily of the valley in particular look very similar to those of wild garlic.
How can I tell the difference between wild garlic and lily of the valley?
Wild garlic and lily of the valley can be distinguished by their growing time, smell, leaf shape, stems and flowers. Wild garlic has a garlic-like smell, single lanceolate leaves, triangular stems and spherical flowers. Lilies of the valley are odorless, have paired leaves, round stems and drooping bell-like flowers.
Wild garlic and lily of the valley?
The most important difference between wild garlic and lily of the valley is that wild garlic leaves are edible, while lily of the valley is highly poisonous in all plant seasons. When eating the leaves of the spring flowering plant, severe symptoms of poisoning occur, which can even end tragically.
However, there are a few characteristics that can distinguish the two plants.
How do you distinguish between wild garlic and lily of the valley?
- Growing time
- Smell
- leaves
- Stem
- Buds and flowers
Wild garlic leaves sprout earlier
Wild garlic sprouts its leaves earlier than lily of the valley leaves, which are often only visible up to four weeks later.
Distinguishing characteristic smell
The smell is probably the most important and clearest distinguishing feature. Even if you pass a place in the forest with a lot of wild garlic, you can smell garlic. If you are not sure what plant it is, pick a leaf and rub it between your fingers.
If the leaf has an aromatic smell of garlic, it is non-toxic wild garlic. Lily of the valley leaves have almost no smell of their own.
If the crushed leaf was a lily of the valley, do not put your fingers in your mouth. Wash them thoroughly at home.
How the leaves differ from each other
Wild garlic forms long, lancet-like leaves. There is a green leaf on each petiole. Lily of the valley always has two leaves.
Wild garlic leaves have long stalks, while the stalks of lily of the valley leaves are shorter.
Triangular stem
In contrast to lily of the valley, the stems of wild garlic's leaves and inflorescences are triangular. Lily of the valley stems are round.
The wild garlic flower is an umbel
Lily of the valley lives up to its name. Its flowers form small, downward-hanging bells that are strung on a stem. The wild garlic flower, on the other hand, is an umbel.
The umbel grows on a long stem and has a spherical shape. Buds first develop on it, from which up to 20 small white flowers, each with six petals, appear.
When wild garlic blooms, its harvest time is over. The leaves lose flavor as buds and later flowers appear. You shouldn't collect the leaves anymore anyway. The flowering period of the lily of the valley begins several weeks later.
Tip
Other similar plants such as spotted arum and autumn crocus, which are poisonous and therefore not edible, are also often confused with wild garlic. There have occasionally been cases of confusion with arum leaves in the trade. Therefore, check purchased wild garlic before consumption.
