Ramps In Missouri

Early Spring. It is early April here in central Missouri and the temperatures are slowly warming. One plant in particular is just beginning to leaf out in this area. It is Allium triccocum commonly known as wild leeks, or ramps.

Above: Ramps just beginning to emerge

They are much more common in states east of Missouri, but can be somewhat difficult to find in the wild in many parts of Missouri. The good news is that they can grow quite well in particular areas in the state once they are planted. In the wild they often grow in shady, protected, forested areas. The forests they prefer are mostly composed of various associations of deciduous tree species. 

Ramps are edible. The bulbs and leaves can be harvested and eaten in early spring. They have a unique flavor, somewhere between garlic and onion, with a little something extra. I have planted both ramp seeds and bulbs, and the bulbs produce much faster. Seed germination can be very unpredictable, and they will not likely produce plants large enough to harvest from for years. 

Above: Ramps just emerging. The leaves haven't completely emerged yet.

On the sloping loess soils of Missouri I have had a lot of success cultivating ramps. They really seem to thrive on forested north facing slopes, loess foot slopes, and loess toe slopes. 

They also seem to do well in small gullied areas in loess soils where small check dams of fallen branches and brush actually make small terrace beds. Note that none of the small gullies ever have significant amounts of water moving through them. Only during large rainfall events does any water flow into them at all. 

Above: This is a series of brush 'check dam' beds in a small gulley where ramps readily grow.