Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) - 25 pieces

In spring, wild garlic turns the woodland floor into a green carpet, and soon afterwards into a white one. The flowers are star-shaped and grouped in loose domes. The broad, fresh green leaves appear as early as March and die back again after flowering in early summer. The plant is native to Switzerland.

At about 25–35 cm tall, wild garlic is ideal for shady, moist places under deciduous trees and shrubs, at the woodland edge and in wildlife gardens. It thrives in humus-rich, moist soil. Lovely partners are wood anemones, corydalis, ferns and sweet woodruff. As it spreads quickly, it needs a place where it is allowed to expand.

The early flowers are a source of food for bees and other insects. The leaves have a mild garlic aroma and are prized in the kitchen. Voles and deer usually avoid the plant. In the right spot, wild garlic naturalises quickly and forms large colonies over the years.

Plant the bulbs from September to November about 5–8 cm deep, tip upwards. Space them 10–15 cm apart. Choose a partly to fully shaded spot with humus-rich, moist and free-draining soil, ideally under deciduous trees. Plant soon after delivery, as the bulbs dry out easily.

Leave the foliage after flowering until it has died back. A layer of leaves in autumn imitates the woodland floor and keeps the soil moist. Water occasionally in dry springs. If you harvest the leaves, make sure you identify them reliably: lily of the valley and autumn crocus look similar and are poisonous. For this reason, do not plant wild garlic next to these species.