Society Garlic

A native of South Africa, Tulbaghia violacea is a vigorous, deciduous, rhizomatous perennial, looking rather like a more refined agapanthus or allium. It forms a clump of narrow, strap-shaped, grey-green leaves, which smell of garlic and can form dense clumps. In July, August and September, pretty umbels of fragrant, starry, lilac-pink flowers are borne on bare, upright stems; the flowers are attractive to pollinators, including moths, and are also edible, as are the leaves. The plant is a bit tender; in colder areas, pot up the clump and bring it in for the winter; a deep, dry mulch will help in warmer areas. Society garlic holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.