Society Garlic
Tulbaghia alliacea
Family: Alliaceae
What it is like
Tulbaghia alliacea is a CORM growing to 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Sandy flats. Clay or gravelly flats.
S. Africa - Cape province.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Bulb - cooked. Leaves and stems - they can be cooked like spinach or chopped fine and used as a relish. Flowers. They are regarded as a delicacy by the native Zulu women.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent
How it is grown
Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position. This species is hardy in the mildest areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c. However, it is in leaf during the winter and so is best grown with some protection such as a cold greenhouse or conservatory. Plants grow from a cluster of small bulbs attached to a basal plate that is sometimes regarded as a rhizome. The flowers are very fragrant at night. Another report says that they have an unpleasant smell. The whole plant has a powerful aroma of garlic.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the greenhouse. Sow stored seed in early spring in the greenhouse. 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.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Habit: Corm
Hardiness: 7-10
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist