How to Care for Variegated Society Garlic
A perennial evergreen wildflower in rocky meadows in eastern South Africa, society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) forms a tidy grasslike clump of garlic-scented leaves. From spring to fall, it produces tall stems topped with fragrant but tiny, lavender-pink flowers. Cultivar Variegata displays leaves with a long band of creamy white. In the United States, variegated society garlic may be grown as a houseplant or summertime annual in cold winter regions. In U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 and warmer, it easily survives year-round outdoors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Compost
- Slow-release granular fertilizer
- Scissors or bypass pruners
- Shovel
Instructions
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Plant variegated society garlic in a moist but well-drained soil. A sandy loam is ideal, especially if organic matter is incorporated into it before planting. Although tolerant of bright, indirect light, in shade, the plant will not flower. Any site that receives at least six hours of direct sun daily is better.
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Water the soil freely, supplementing natural rainfall, when the plant is actively growing during the warmth from spring to fall. Once in bloom, reduce watering slightly, but still maintain a slightly moist soil. Society garlic will tolerate and survive a drought during the growing season, but it will not look as attractive or bloom well. Reduce watering from midfall to early spring so the soil remains slightly dry. Wet soil during the semidormant cool months causes root rot and fungal diseases.
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Mulch the soil around the variegated society garlic clump with 1 inch of compost. This diminishes weeds, shades the soil in the hot summer sun and decomposes to provide nutrients to the roots. Alternatively, scatter granules of slow-release fertilizer -- such as 10-10-10 -- around the plants in early spring and in midsummer. Do not fertilize from fall to spring.
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Trim off dead leaves and spent flower stems across the year with scissors. Bypass pruners also work, but the thin, soft leaves and stems do not require heavy-duty cutting blades.
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Dig up society garlic clumps to relocate or divide for propagation any time they are actively growing from spring to fall. Avoid transplanting them when in heavy bloom. In long, hot summer areas, it's better to dig or divide society garlic plants either in early spring or early fall.
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Tips & Warnings
Winter temperatures in the 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit range cause leaves to die back. Plants quickly regrow foliage once spring warmth returns. Trim off winter-killed tissues in late winter; plants may be cut back to 2 to 3 inches to allow for the entire plant to rejuvenate with fresh new growth.
Plant variegated society garlic in peat-based potting soil if grown indoors. The container must have drainage holes. Do not use topsoil, as it contains pathogens and usually compacts hard after a couple cycles of wet and dry.
Variegated society garlic leaves scald easily if the soil is too infertile or dry and hot sunlight basks the plants.
Variegated society garlic is not fully winter hardy in USDA zone 7, where temperatures drop into the range of zero to 10 F. Only if the underground rhizome roots do not freeze will this perennial return in spring.
References
- Learn2Grow: Tulbaghia Violacea "Variegata"
- "Sunset Western Garden Book"; Kathleen Norris Brenzel; 2007
- Floridata; Tulbaghia Violacea; Steve Christman; 2000
