Wild Garlic Has Deadly Lookalikes – Beware of Confusion!

Wild garlic, known as Bärlauch in Germany, is extremely popular—especially in spring, when foraging season begins. But those who collect it themselves must be careful: Confusing it with highly toxic plants like lily of the valley or autumn crocus can be fatal.

Toxic Lookalikes: These Plants Resemble Wild Garlic

Foragers risk mistaking wild garlic for lily of the valley, autumn crocus, or arum. These plants contain dangerous toxins that can cause severe poisoning—or even death.

A key test is the smell check: When crushed, wild garlic releases a strong garlic scent, whereas its toxic lookalikes have no noticeable smell. However, caution is advised—the scent can linger on fingers, leading to misjudgment.

How to Identify Real Wild Garlic

To avoid dangerous mix-ups, look for these characteristics:

Leaves: Wild garlic leaves are soft, lance-shaped, and grow individually from the ground. Lily of the valley has multiple leaves per stem.

Smell: Crushed wild garlic leaves give off a distinct garlic aroma.

Growing location: Wild garlic thrives in damp, shady forests.

If you’re unsure, it’s best to skip foraging and buy wild garlic from a supermarket or farmer’s market—because one mistake could be deadly.

Check out our favorite wild garlic recipes here!