Are those really ramps? Beware of their poisonous lookalike

April 24, 2023  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Ramps or wild leeks have an onion-like bulb. Photo by Kevin England

Ramps or wild leeks grow straight, upward foliage. Photo by Pauline Catling

False hellebore leaves are pleated. Photo by Craig K. Hunt

It’s that time of spring when Vermonters like to forage for fiddleheads and wild leeks, also known as ramps (Allium tricoccum). 

State health officials warn those headed to their favorite spots to find the tasty wild plants to use caution not to mistake a poisonous lookalike plant called false hellebore for ramps.

The young leaves of American false hellebore (Veratrum viride) can resemble the edible ramps now making their springtime appearance. The consequences of mistaking the plant for the popular edible wild leek could be serious. 

False hellebore contains poisonous chemicals called alkaloids, and eating it can make people very sick, according to the Vermont Department of Health. In most cases, people who have eaten false hellebore need to go to the hospital. (Pronunciation note: false HEH-luh-bor)

“This is not a poisoning you should treat at home,” said Sarah Owen, state toxicologist with the Department of Health. “If you think you have eaten false hellebore, call the Northern New England Poison Center right away. You could develop a serious heart condition that requires immediate medical attention.”

Symptoms of false hellebore poisoning include severe nausea and vomiting, which often is followed by a slowed heartbeat and low blood pressure. Other symptoms may include slowed breathing, weakness, dizziness, numbness and tingling, and sweating.

State officials urge Vermonters who harvest wild ramps to make sure they know how to identify them. The leaves of ramps are flat, grow directly from the ground, and are generally found in rich upland forests. Ramps also smell strongly similar to onions. False hellebore leaves are pleated in appearance, grow from a stalk in floodplains, marshes and swamps, and do not smell like onions.

If you may have eaten false hellebore, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. You can also chat online at nnepc.org, or text “poison” to 85511. If there is a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1.

The Health Department has more information online about poisonous plants including false hellebore and how to recognize them.