I received an on-line ad for ramps this morning. The ad promoted this plant both as a edible food similar to garlic and onions and as a shade landscape plant with beautiful flowers. It multiplies both by bulbs increasing naturally and from seed production. I have an extensive hosta collection and also have tried to blend in many other shade plants: native jack-in-the-pulpit which has spread quite a bit but not invasive; may apple; mertensia; lily-of-the-valley so invasive I am considering pulling out all of it; bleeding heart which can spread wherever it wants and be welcomed; bloodroot, hepatica, vinca so invasive I did pull all of it...took several years to really get rid of it. That's what comes to mind.
My question: Does anyone have experience with ramps? Would I be risking another lily of the valley or vinca invasion? I think it might be great for anyone who did a lot of cooking and would harvest most of the increase, but I'm not that into cooking with garlic, (although we like garlic/onion flavors). I think I would use some of it for cooking, but am worried that it would spread too much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

It's nothing like vinca or lily of the valley. It's nowhere near as aggressive as even jack in the pulpit. I've had ramps in my woodland garden for years. They multiply, but at very slow rate.

Same thing here.

I received (probably) the same email notice from Berry, too. I'm seriously considering his offer. I am already growing native MN ramps (from seed) and ones from seed collected in Indiana. I want to see if these different provenances have different tastes. Here, ramps don't seem to required constantly moist areas, but do want cool areas. Though I've only had them for several years, I can't imagine them getting out of control.

Hi Linda,

You could try Allium ursinum (Wild garlic or Bear's garlic) instead: I believe the plant isn't that invasive (I've got it in my garden for the second year now) and it also has a garlic-like scent.

Kind Regards,

Sean