Usually available: All year

Life cycle: Perennial
Height: 30 - 60cm
Position: Sun / part shade
Soil preference: Well drained

This is how we pack and send your Herb Plants

You will receive
- 1 Society Garlic - Variegated Herb Plant in a 50 X 75mm tube - General growing instructions

All of our Herb Plants are grown organically with certified organic potting mixes and fertilizers

Botanical Name: Tulbaghia violacea

Variegated Society Garlic is an evergreen perennial which is highly ornamental and very useful as a garden border plant. It has long narrow leaves, similar to garlic or chives, extending up to 30 cm. It may often be called ‘Silver Lace’ in reference to the white margins, on the blue green leaves, which give a silver hue. The showy 1.8cm flowers are a lilac colour and appear in clusters of 8-20 flowers, held on 30-60cm stalks. The clumps can grow up to 60cm wide and the leaves arise from the rhizomes which creep underground.

The plant was named society garlic because it has a delicate garlic aroma and taste, without the lingering anti-social odour. The attractive blooms are not able to be used as cut flowers, because cutting the stem releases the garlic scent and overwhelms the sweet floral fragrance.

Growing Conditions

Society Garlic is an easy plant to grow, both in the garden and in pots. The best flushes of flowers appear in summer and spring. Full sun to part shade is preferred with a well-drained soil. It is hardy and drought tolerant, but does better if given water and allowed to dry a little before the next watering. Excessive dampness in the soil may cause tuber rot. It will survive in the ground with temperatures as low as -3 degrees Celsius and should return in spring. However, results may vary and not always be directly related to winter ground temperature. In regions where it is too cold, the plant is treated as an annual or planted in protected containers.

The plant can be fertilised during the growing season and clumps should be divided every 3-4 years, especially if grown in containers. Dividing in spring will help the plant maintain vigour. Although the plant does spread via rhizomes it is not invasive. Society garlic may also be propagated by sowing seed direct to the ground.

Culinary Uses

Dutch settlers in South Africa used Society Garlic as a garlic replacement, but today it is used more as an ornamental plant. However, it is possible to snip the leaves and stems into small pieces and use them in salads or cooking. They have a garlic scent when crushed, but not the strong lingering odour of garlic. The flowers can be used as an edible garnish or sprinkled through salads.

All information provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Please seek professional advice before commencing any treatment.