Scientific name: Tulbaghia violacea
Synonym: Omentaria violacea
Common names: Garlic-Social, Tulbalgia
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Category: Bulbs, Spice Herbs, Flowers, Perennial Flowers, Full Sun Coverings, Lawns and Coverings, Medicinal, PANC, Horticultural Plants
Climate: Mediterranean, Subtropical, Temperate, Tropical
Origin: Africa, South Africa
Height: 0.1 to 0.3 meters, 0.3 to 0.4 meters, 0.4 to 0.6 meters
Luminosity: Full sun
The garlic is a herbaceous, bulbous, tufted and flowering plant, originally from South Africa and widely used in gardens for its ornamental qualities and low maintenance. The leaves are long and tapering, like ribbons. They are fleshy, with a strong garlic aroma and dark green in color, in the typical form. The inflorescences are of the umbel type and appear all year round, but mainly in the warm months. They rise on tall peduncles, high above the foliage, with a small bouquet of starry, tubular, sweetly scented lilac, pink or white flowers. The fruits that follow are triangular capsules. They open naturally when ripe, releasing black seeds. There is also a cultivar with variegated cream leaves, the “Silver Lace”, and a cultivar with variegated pink and white leaves, the “Tricolor”.








Social garlic is a constant presence in planned gardens, as it is a very versatile plant, easy to care for and extremely beautiful and effective. This plant with a delicate and elegant appearance can compose massifs or borders in full sun. It's amazing how easy it is to fit it into different garden styles, in different situations. The growth is moderate, which makes it somewhat expensive to assemble a large massif already in full effect, well tucked. However, over time this becomes a quality since the plant is not aggressive, resulting in very low maintenance. It can also be planted in pots and planters. The flowers are very durable after cutting, and can be used in floral arrangements.
In addition to all these wonderful characteristics, garlic is edible and can be used as a seasoning in the same way as common garlic. The name garlic-social comes precisely from this use, as it is said that by ingesting it instead of common garlic, you do not get bad breath. It is also reported to have important aphrodisiac properties, in addition to fighting cancer and thrombosis. In the home garden, it still works as a great repellent, helping to scare away pests, including mosquitoes and flies, and even snakes and moles.
It must be grown in full sun, in fertile, light, draining soil, enriched with organic matter and irrigated regularly. Despite growing in semi-shaded places, it will flower less in these places and grow less vigorously. Tolerates cold, but must be protected from severe frost. Resistant to short periods of drought. It does not resist prolonged soaking. Fertilize monthly during spring and summer for intense flowering. Replant every 3 or 4 years, enriching the substrate.