Tulbaghia violacea Society Garlic PFAF Plant Database

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Tulbaghia violacea - Harv.

Common Name

Society Garlic

Family

Alliaceae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Forest margins and stream banks[282].

Range

S. Africa - Eastern Cape, Transvaal.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Tulbaghia violacea is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from Jun to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.


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Habitats
Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Root.
Edible Uses:

Leaves and stems - raw or cooked. A mild garlic flavour, they are used as a flavouring in soups and salads[183]. 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[183]. The flowers are very ornamental, they have an onion-like heat in the mouth but very little flavour[K].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[200]. 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[200]. Plants succeed outdoors at Edinburgh botanical gardens[90]. Plants grow from a cluster of small bulbs attached to a basal plate that is sometimes regarded as a rhizome[200]. The flowers are very fragrant at night, the whole plant has a garlic-like aroma[200]. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[200]. 'Silver Lace' is a dwarf clumping plant that grows well in containers and is more attractive with larger flowers than the type[183, 200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the greenhouse[200]. Sow stored seed in early spring in the greenhouse[200]. 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.

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Expert comment

Author
Harv.

Botanical References
200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[90]Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs

Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[282]Manning. J. Goldblatt. P. & Snijman. D. The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs

Excellent treatment of these plants, with god descriptions, habitat etc.Lots of high quality colour photographs.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
susan	Fri May 19 2006

It is not clear as to whether this plant is evergreen. Can you advise please as I would like to use it near the base of a conifer to disguise some bare branches.

Elizabeth H.
davidn	Tue May 26 2009

I quite like the flavor of the leaves, almost like rubber but in a good way, perhaps a little smoky but they're pretty tough, unless you like chewing they'd have to choped very fine.

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