Tulbaghia violacea
Society Garlic
a perennial member of the Tulbaghia genus in the family Alliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves and stems - raw or cooked. A mild garlic flavour, they are used as a flavouring in soups and salads[1]. The leaves taste hot but do not have a lot of flavour[K]. Flowers - raw or cooked. They can be added to salads, used as a garnish or as a flavouring in cooked foods[1]. The flowers are very ornamental, they have an onion-like heat in the mouth but very little flavour[K].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Environment
- Range
- S. Africa - Eastern Cape, Transvaal.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- 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]. Hardy in the mildest areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c, it can be grown as a bedding plant or at the base of a warm wall[2]. Plants succeed outdoors at Edinburgh botanical gardens[3]. 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, the whole plant has a garlic-like aroma[2]. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[2]. 'Silver Lace' is a dwarf clumping plant that grows well in containers and is more attractive with larger flowers than the type[1][2].
References
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1