Ramps. Unless you’re from Southern Appalachia, the name probably conjures up highway interchanges or skateboarding. Those who are familiar with wild ramps, though, will know that those images couldn’t be farther from the reality of this pungent plant.

What Are Ramps?

Also known as spring onions, ramsons, wild leeks, wood leeks, and wild garlic, ramps (Allium tricoccum) are a member of the allium family, which includes garlic and onions. The perennial wild onion grows in early spring and is a much sought after favorite of wild foragers.

They grow throughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada and are popular in the local cuisine of many states and provinces.

Ramps are easy to distinguish from other wild onions by their broad, smooth, leaves, which are light green in color, sometimes with deep purple tints. The stalks appear similar to those of scallions, though they often widen at the root for a slightly more bulbous appearance. Both the stalks and leaves are edible.

Ramp festivals, to celebrate the return of the plant, are a common occurrence in southern Appalachia, where they are most abundant. Farther north, in Canada and New England, they are scarcer and have been commercially exploited to the point where they are now protected. In these areas, many of the ramps people eat are cultivated.

Are Ramps Healthy?

Like all onions, ramps are rich in vitamins A and C, selenium, and chromium. That makes them good for teeth, bones, eyesight, the immune system, the cardiovascular system. They contain antioxidant properties that fight off harmful free radicals in the body.

Here are a few recipes to help you enjoy this wild spring delicacy:

Grilled Ramps and Asparagus Recipe

Pickled Ramps

Potato Ramp Skillet Soup

Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.

  • Jaime McLeod
  • #molongui-disabled-link
  • March 23, 2020
  • Finding Dimes? Could Be A Sign From A Loved One
  • Jaime McLeod
  • #molongui-disabled-link
  • December 23, 2019
  • Top 10 Foods For 20/20 Vision
  • Jaime McLeod
  • #molongui-disabled-link
  • August 22, 2016
  • Make Your Own Pickles - It’s Easy!
  • Jaime McLeod
  • #molongui-disabled-link
  • March 7, 2016
  • X Marks The Spot: Lunar X Explained