Plant Details

Allium ampeloprasum

Babington’s leek

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Common names

36 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Babington’s leek
  • Elephant Garlic[1]
  • Wild Leek[1]
Other languages (23)
Dutch
  • Oerprei
  • Parellook
  • Prei[1]
French
  • Ail Faux-Poireau[1]
  • Carambole[1]
  • Poireau d'été[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Poireau perpétuel
Arabic
  • بصل العفريت[1]
  • كراث بري[1]
  • كراث بري عريض الأوراق[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • كراث نبطي[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
  • pór letní[1]
Danish
  • vild perleløg[1]
Estonian
  • viinamäelauk[1]
Finnish
  • kesäpurjo[1]
Greek
  • Αγριόπρασο[1]
Hebrew
  • שום גבוה[1]
Hungarian
  • Francia hagyma[1]
Italian
  • aglio ampelopraso[1]
Lithuanian
  • Gausiažiedis poras[1]
Ojibwe
  • Bagwaji-zhigaagawanzh[1]
Polish
Portuguese
  • Alho-pôrro[1]
Russian
  • Лук виноградный[1]
Slovak
  • pór divý[1]
Slovenian
  • poletni luk[1]
Spanish
  • Puerro silvestre[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Kaya Sarımsağı[1]
  • Pırasa[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Allium ampeloprasum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Wild Leek — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Elephant Garlic — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Alho-pôrro — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Ail Faux-Poireau — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Carambole — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Poireau d'été — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • viinamäelauk — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • purjolök — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • kesäpurjo — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Лук виноградный — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • pór letní — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Αγριόπρασο — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Bagwaji-zhigaagawanzh — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • كراث بري — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • كراث بري عريض الأوراق — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • بصل العفريت — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • كراث نبطي — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • porradell — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Gausiažiedis poras — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • 象大蒜 — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Prei — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Puerro silvestre — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • aglio ampelopraso — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • poletni luk — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • vild perleløg — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Francia hagyma — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • שום גבוה — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • por — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • 南欧蒜 — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • pór divý — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Pırasa — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.
  • Kaya Sarımsağı — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 122912; Allium ampeloprasum.

General information

Scientific name: Allium ampeloprasum
Accepted name (Kew): Allium ampeloprasum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Amaryllidaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Allium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Babington’s leek
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.91–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 0.3–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [2]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Biennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [2]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Root
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
None

Description

Chives can be eaten raw or cooked. The bulbs vary in size from 2 to 6 cm and have a strong leek and garlic flavor. They are used as a seasoning in cooked dishes. Selected cultivars of the bulbs are large and have a mild garlic flavor. The leaves can also be consumed raw or cooked, with a mild to strong garlic taste. They are available from late autumn to spring, although they become fibrous and tough as they age. The flowers have a similar flavor to the leaves but are drier in texture and are best used as a flavoring in cooked dishes. The chive bulbs have a mild garlic flavor and are suitable as a seasoning in salads and cooked food. Although they grow abundantly, their small size makes them a bit cumbersome to handle. They can also be pickled.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1169904; name ID 294888; Allium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1170517; name ID 294972; Allium ampeloprasum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Allium ampeloprasum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .