Wild Onions – Edible

Q: At a neighborhood dinner a guest said he planned to pick the wild onions in his yard and use them in recipes. Are they edible?

A: The “wild onions” we notice in lawns now are probably wild garlic, Allium vineale. This plant’s leaves are round, while wild onions, Allium canadense, have flat leaves. Both plants are edible but make sure no herbicides have been applied to them before using in the kitchen. Remind your friend that he won’t get many kisses after dinner if he doesn’t brush his teeth first!