Seasonal Wild Flowers

Babington's Leek

Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii

Wild Leek

Amaryllidaceae

June to July

It is most common in Cornwall and is thinly scattered in

southern areas.

See the BSBI distribution map for Babington's Leek

It grows on grassy banks and sandy shingle, mainly by the

sea.

Babington’s Leek is a striking, native, robust, bulbous,

perennial herb, growing up to 2m.

Flowerheads are on long stalks and up to 10cm across.

The heads are initially enclosed in a papery membrane,

which opens to show whitish green flowers.

These turn pink to purple and some have secondary,

satellite heads.

The bulbils are green, turning black.

Leaves are broad and up to 1m.

Babington's Leek, Abbotsbury, Dorset

Flowerhead in July

Close-up of flowers- central stigma, shrivelling stamens

Flower buds in May

Flowerhead in June

Secondary flowerheads

Close up of secondary flowerhead

Immature bulbils - June

Mature bulbils - July

Leaves and stems