How to distinguish wild onions from wild leeks

Wild onions and wild leeks are both common wild vegetables. They mostly grow on sunny hillsides and are one of the most common wild plants in nature. However, many people don’t know much about wild onions and wild leeks. They don’t know the difference between them. They always can’t tell the difference between wild onions and wild leeks when they encounter them. So how should we distinguish between wild onions and wild leeks?

How to distinguish wild onions from wild leeks

1. Basic knowledge of wild onions

Wild onion is a plant of the Liliaceae family and a perennial herb. Its height is mostly between 30 and 45 centimeters. This plant is also called sand onion, wheat onion and water onion in nature. It is mostly produced in the grasslands of northern China and is relatively rare in the south.

2. Basic knowledge of wild leek

Wild leek is also called mountain leek. It is the predecessor of the edible leek we have today and is also a perennial herb. It will not exceed 30 cm in height when it grows up. It is not common in northern China and mostly grows in North China and East China.

3. The difference between wild leek and wild onion

The biggest difference between wild leeks and wild onions is their taste. Wild leeks taste spicy and irritating, similar to the leeks that people usually eat, but the spiciness is stronger. Wild onions have a strong onion aroma, and taste slightly sweet when chewed, with less irritation.

4. The difference between the leaves of wild leek and wild onion

There are also certain differences in the leaves of wild leeks and wild onions. Although their leaves are both emerald green, the leaves of wild leeks are flat, while the leaves of wild onions are elongated and tubular. When comparing the two together, you can tell them apart at a glance.