I received an on-line ad for ramps this morning. The ad promoted this plant both as a edible food similar to garlic and onions and as a shade landscape plant with beautiful flowers. It multiplies both by bulbs increasing naturally and from seed production. I have an extensive hosta collection and also have tried to blend in many other shade plants: native jack-in-the-pulpit which has spread quite a bit but not invasive; may apple; mertensia; lily-of-the-valley so invasive I am considering pulling out all of it; bleeding heart which can spread wherever it wants and be welcomed; bloodroot, hepatica, vinca so invasive I did pull all of it...took several years to really get rid of it. That's what comes to mind.
My question: Does anyone have experience with ramps? Would I be risking another lily of the valley or vinca invasion? I think it might be great for anyone who did a lot of cooking and would harvest most of the increase, but I'm not that into cooking with garlic, (although we like garlic/onion flavors). I think I would use some of it for cooking, but am worried that it would spread too much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
