PlantFiles: Babington's Leek, Welsh Leek
Allium babingtonii

Originating from sandy sea shores, yet succeeds well in heavy clay. Winterhardy here in zone 8. Needs to be grown in a permanent place. Thrives on neglect.

The plants die down late summer and resprout late autumn or early spring. They grow to size of a leek. Large plants will throw up a flower scape with flowers and bulbils, no seeds are produced. There are large cloves underground after plant has flowered. Propagation from bulbils or cloves (and from scales which remain in the ground after the bulbs are harvested).

Very useful herb/vegetable - all parts of the plant can be eaten. Snip young leaves for salads or egg dishes, use as leek, harvest bulbils and use as garlic (bulbils will keep a few months), dig up cloves and use as garlic. Flavour is like elephant garlic. Bulbs and bulbils are hotter than leaves.