Practical
Plants

Tulbaghia alliacea

Society Garlic

a member of the Tulbaghia genus in the family Alliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Alliaceae
Height
0.45 m
Fertility
Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Bulb - cooked[1]. Leaves and stems - they can be cooked like spinach or chopped fine and used as a relish[1]. Flowers. They are regarded as a delicacy by the native Zulu women[1].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Environment

Range
S. Africa - Cape province.
Habitat
Sandy flats[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the greenhouse[2]. Sow stored seed in early spring in the greenhouse[2]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. If planting them outdoors, this is best done in late summer when the plants are dormant. Division of the dormant plants in late summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[2]. This species is hardy in the mildest areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[2]. However, it is in leaf during the winter and so is best grown with some protection such as a cold greenhouse or conservatory[2]. Plants grow from a cluster of small bulbs attached to a basal plate that is sometimes regarded as a rhizome[2]. The flowers are very fragrant at night[2]. Another report says that they have an unpleasant smell[3]. The whole plant has a powerful aroma of garlic[2][3].

References

  1. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  3. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

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