Society Garlic | Live Quart Size Pots | Tulbaghia Violacea

This grass-like perennial’s foliage is blue-gray with lilac-pink flowers rising above throughout the year. During high winds the garlic fragrance is potent. Its fast growth habit reaches 12 inches tall (12 inches wide), and the stalks reach up to 24 inches. Best performs as an accent plant, group planting, and as a container plant. This fast-growing perennial evergreen needs a regular water schedule to ensure the growth of a mature root system. After the mature root system is established, watering is needed occasionally, except during a drought, watering is needed regularly. Pruning old foliage is recommended to maintain a well-groomed appearance. Tulbaghia violacea, commonly called society garlic, is a tender perennial that is native to grassland areas in southern Africa. It somewhat resembles garlic chives in appearance. From a tuberous rootstock, a clump of narrow, strap-shaped, gray-green leaves rises to 12” tall. Leaves and rootstock have a strong garlic smell when bruised, hence the common name. In early summer, flowering scapes rise to 20” tall bearing terminal umbels of sweetly fragrant lilac-pink flowers. Each small flower has a tubular corona spreading to an open star with six pointed tepals. Flowering continues on and off throughout the summer into fall. Flowers and leaves are edible (mild garlic flavor), and may be used in soups and salads. No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and snails may damage the foliage. All parts of this plant emit a strong garlic odor, which contributes to its deer and rabbit resistance.