Tulbaghia violacea

Social Garlic, Wild Garlic

The hardy and easy-to-grow Tulbaghia Violacea has always been a very popular indigenous perennial, grown for its bountiful mauve flower clusters on tall stems above clumps of grey-green, strap-like leaves with a garlicky odour.

The flowers, leaves and stems are edible and can be used for their flavour or as a garnish. Wild Garlic has traditionally been used as a medicinal plant too, and is also planted to deter snakes and aphids. Tulbaghia violacea is a very water-wise plant to include in a herb garden or to be used en masse as a border plant.
 

Latest Varieties

‘Himba’
Purple to violet flowers with a prominent yellow-orange crown, medium green foliage and vigorous, upright-mounding growth habit.

‘Savannah Lightning’ 
A pure white form with prominent and fragrant yellow stamens and grey-green leaves.

‘Kilimanjaro’
Grey-green leaves and fragrant, pale purple flower clusters with pale cream crowns.

‘Ashanti’
Tight, full flower clusters of bright lavender-pink that have a slightly darker crown and tube in the centre of each flower.