Babington's Leek Bulbils

Babington's Leek Bulbils - Allium ampeloprasum var Babingtonii

Allium ampeloprasum var Babingtonii

Hardy to Zone 6b
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Germination Tested Not tested

5 bulbils per packet

$9.00 CAD

Sale Sold out

Product variants

Quantity

Expected to restock in fall 2026.

Babington's Leek are a tasty and easy to grow perennial vegetable providing slender leeks with a hint of garlicky flavour. They are an excellent cut-and-come-again veggie for a semi-wild food forest edge, or as a companion plant between other vegetables. Harvest the leeks by cutting them off at the soil line in spring to early summer and baby leeks will resprout from the base.

*Note that these leeks will go dormant in the summer and appear to be dead, but they will resprout when the fall rains return.*

The scapes can be eaten before they open and form bulbils as well, but the bulbils are so whimsical when they bloom, it's worth leaving a few! The bulbils can be replanted or even pickled. The bulbils usually will not form until the second year. They are kind of like the leek version of Egyptian Walking Onions!

These bulbils are quite a bit smaller than Egyptian Onions, but each bulb will grow into a full-sized leek. Plants can be propagated either by bulbils, or by the underground bulbs, which multiply into one or two offsets per plant. These offsets can be dug up when dormant and spaced out/planted elsewhere.

Bulbils can be planted anytime from fall to early spring, either direct sown or planted in pots and carefully transplanted. Sow about 1/2 inch deep, 3-6 inches apart. These leeks tolerate a range of soil conditions.

Babington's Leeks are probably native to the British Isles and are quite rare in North America. They should be hardy to zone 6b. They have survived in our garden down to -15C no problem.

Growing Instructions

Bulbils are best planted in the fall before the soil is consistently frozen. If you live in a mild area, you may be able to plant almost throughout the winter. If you live in a very cold climate, you can try waiting until spring, and keep the bulbils in a dark, dry place with good airflow. Keep an eye on them, and if they start to go bad or sprout a lot, try planting them in a pot inside, and transplant them outside in spring. Some people say to keep the bulbils in the fridge, so do your own research on what you feel is best. I've had bulbils last at room temperature for a year just fine, but your conditions may be different than mine.

Bulbils can be planted about 2-3 inches apart or farther if you've got the room. They will multiply from the base over time, as well as by fallen bulbils, but they don't mind being crowded. Smaller bulbs can be planted closer together and larger ones given more space.

It can be tricky to know which way is up for Babington’s Leek bulbils. The root end (bottom) will usually be more slender, with a tiny flattened spot or hole from where it broke off the mother plant that is tan brown in colour. The growing end (top) is usually more rounded, but comes to a point. See the last variety photo for examples. If you’re unsure which way is up, plant the bulbils on their side and they will figure it out!

The bulbils will send out roots and little green leaves that look like green onions. The base will swell a little into a slender bulb, and the leaves will get taller. In the summer they will grow stronger stalks that grow bulbils on the ends. If left alone, the stalks with bulbils will fall over and likely sprout if the soil is moist- or you can cut the bulbils off once their stalk starts to die back and plant them elsewhere.

Shipping & Returns

By placing an order, customers agree to the shipping & refund policies detailed on this page.

Most orders are sent via Canada Post to keep costs low.

Shipping within Canada

We ship seeds in Canada via Canada Post's regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-4 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally letter mail takes up to 6 weeks, especially to the Eastern provinces and rural areas.

Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery and/or tracking.

Larger bulbs and plants are usually sent via tracked flat rate box.

Shipping to the US

UPDATE FEB 2, 2026: WE ARE TAKING A BREAK ON ACCEPTING US ORDERS DUE TO ISSUES WITH USPS

Sign up to receive an email when we open US shipping again.

Shipping Internationally

International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.

International shipping countries include: Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom. (List updated Aug 31, 2026)

This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts.

Refund Policy

Refunds: We stand behind our seeds, so if for some reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, please reach out to us via email and we will do our best to make it right. Please note that shipping costs are non-refundable.

Cancelled orders: If you wish to cancel an order after purchasing, we may refund your order minus card processing and admin fees at our discretion. We do not accept returns on seeds or plants.

Refused orders: We cannot issue a refund if you refuse to accept or do not claim an order we've mailed to you, or made available for local pickup.

Incorrect addresses: Please double check your mailing address, and let us know ASAP if you've entered an incorrect address at checkout. We may need to charge for additional shipping fees to resend orders.