Tulbaghia

( tool - BAG - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, commonly known as Wild Garlic or Society Garlic, is filled with species of herbaceous perennials that grow from bulb. Most species are native to South Africa, clump-forming, and produce foliage that when crushed smells of garlic. Flowers are borne in terminal umbels, and the plant has the overall look of miniature Narcissus or Agapanthus. Blooms are typically pink to light purple-pink and attract pollinators to the garden. Use these flowers in mixed beds and borders, in containers along walkways, in narrow planting strips, or as members of informal, cottage, or pollinator gardens. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as there is some evidence of potential toxicity if ingested in substantial quantities.

Tulbaghia Species and Varietals

Tulbaghia is a genus in the plant family Amaryllidaceae, and includes 26 species. The genus is named for Ryk Tulbagh, one-time governor of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. The best growing zones for Tulbaghia vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Tulbaghia acutiloba (Wild Garlic)
This species is native to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa, and produces plants that reach between 6 and 18 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Leaves are green and grass-like and khaki, orange, and green flowers with recurved outer petals. Flowers have a sweet smell to them that is most pungent in the evening hours. Plants can flower multiple times each year.

Tulbaghia leucantha (Mountain Wild Garlic)
This species has a wide native range in southern Africa, and is a popular garden ornamental. Plants form rosettes of narrow, green grass-like leaves. Clusters of small flowers bloom atop green stems that rise above foliage in summertime. Blooms are white and orange. At maturity, plants reach up to 2-3 feet tall when in bloom, and have a spread of about a foot. They will form clumps over time via underground rhizome/bulb roots.

Tulbaghia natalensis (Sweet Wild Garlic, Sweet Society Garlic, Pink Wild Garlic)
Plants in this species are native to the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. They are commonly grown as ornamentals around their native range and around the world. Sweet Wild Garlic is clump-forming and produces green foliage and white to pink flowers with yellow to orange centers. Individual plants reach up to 20 inches tall and grow from rhizomatous rootstock.

Tulbaghia simmleri (Pink Agapanthus, Fragrant Tulbaghia, Sweet Wild Garlic)
This species is native to the Northern Provinces of South Africa and is commonly grown elsewhere as a garden ornamental. Individual plants reach up to 1-2 feet tall when mature and in bloom, and produce strappy green leaves. Flowers are purple to lavender-pink and are held in terminal umbels atop thin green stems.

Tulbaghia violacea (Society Garlic, Pink Agapanthus, Wild Garlic, Sweet Garlic, Spring Bulbs, Spring Flowers)
Native to southern Africa, these plants have naturalized in Tanzania and Mexico. They are clump-forming perennials with green leaves and large clusters of fragrant, purple flowers that bloom in summertime. Individual plants reach up to 24 inches tall and 10 inches wide. These plants are commonly grown around the world as garden ornamentals, and cultivars include 'Purple Eye' and 'Silver Lace' (with cream-margined leaves, pictured).

Caring for Tulbaghia

Society Garlic can be planted out in springtime, with seeds sown directly into garden soil after the last threat of frost has passed by. They are also commonly available at reputable nurseries. These plants appreciate full sun, and will flower best in this exposure. They can handle partial shade but will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is light, well-draining, and moderately sandy with a pH of between 6.8 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants require regular waterings that allow soil to dry out slightly between waterings. In wintertime when plants are dormant, allow soil to almost completely dry out. Do not overwater Tulbaghia plants, as they can develop issues with root rot.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Every few years, Tulbaghia plants can benefit from division, ensuring good root health and airflow between plants. For instructions on how to successfully divide Society Garlic plants, see the Propagation section below.

Harvesting Tulbaghia Plants
Society Garlic plants are edible, and are known in their native range for being delicious additions to salads and soups. It can be used in the place of garlic. Greens can be cooked similar to chives, and flowers can be used to garnish dishes. The growing season typically spans summer and fall. Leaves can be cut from the plant at any time and used fresh or dried. When plants are flowering actively, the flowers and their stems can be harvested together. Flowers should be consumed immediately, and frozen tubers and leaves will keep in the freezer for up to one year.

Propagation

Tulbaghia, or Society Garlic, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. Tulbaghia plants grown from seed take a year or two to bloom. To propagate your Society Garlic, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Tulbaghia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 1-2 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Tulbaghia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season

Tulbaghia seed pods form after flowers have faded.

Tulbaghia seeds are irregularly shaped and black.

Problems and Pests

Tulbaghia plants, although generally considered resilient, can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: