• Photo of Tulbaghia (Tulbaghias)

Plant Profile: Tulbaghia

Taxonomy: Tulbaghia

Names

Pink Agapanthus, Society Garlic, Sweet Garlic, Wild Garlic

  • Photo of Tulbaghia (Tulbaghias)

Phonetic Spelling:tul-BAG-ee-uh

Genus:Tulbaghia

Species:

Family:Amaryllidaceae

Society Garlic belongs to the amaryllis family, with most of its species originating from South Africa. This plant features a lengthy blooming season, showcasing flowers that range from purplish-pink to white, accompanied by foliage that emits a garlic aroma. It thrives in well-drained soil enriched with humus. While it can withstand heat and humidity, it benefits from occasional watering during dry periods, although it is also capable of enduring some drought. Additionally, it has moderate salt tolerance and is typically avoided by deer. The roots are tuberous and gradually spread, forming clumps over time, while the leaves are long, narrow, and resemble grass.

For optimal blooming, Society Garlic should be placed in full sunlight, though it can adapt to partial shade. This versatile plant is ideal for borders, containers, or rock gardens. To prolong the flowering period, remember to deadhead the spent blooms. Propagation can be achieved through division as necessary.

Tulbaghia Feature Summary

Tulbaghia Image Gallery

Tags

#heat tolerant
#perennial bulb
#salt tolerant
#edging
#deer resistant
#long bloom time
#rock gardens
#borders
#humidity tolerant
#walkways
#patio
#container plants

Similar Plants

Tulbaghia Feature Summary

Attributes
The leaves and bulbs have been used in herbal medicine
Store tuberous roots in moist peat at 45°F (7°C) in cilder climates
Leaves and flowers can be used in salads
Perennial
Bulb
Fruit
Triangular capsules split to release the flattened, hard black seeds
< 1 inch
Flowers
Flowers are borne in clusters called umbrels with 6 tepals and a raised crown-like structure in the center of the flower called a corona.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Fragrant
Long Bloom Season
6 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
Long linear grass-like green leaves with a garlic odor when crushed
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Straight green stems
Smooth (glabrous)
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Piedmont
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Rock Garden
Children's Garden
Deer
Heat
Humidity
Salt
Container
Walkways
Small Space
Slope/Bank
Coastal

Tulbaghia Attributes

Tulbaghia: Uses (Ethnobotany)

The leaves and bulbs have been used in herbal medicine

Tulbaghia: Country Or Region Of Origin

South Africa

Tulbaghia: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Drought and salt. Resistant to deer.

Tulbaghia: Bulb Storage

Store tuberous roots in moist peat at 45°F (7°C) in cilder climates

Tulbaghia: Edibility

Leaves and flowers can be used in salads

Tulbaghia: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Tulbaghia: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Tulbaghia Fruit

Tulbaghia: Fruit Description

Triangular capsules split to release the flattened, hard black seeds

Tulbaghia: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Tulbaghia: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Tulbaghia: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Tulbaghia Flowers

Tulbaghia: Flower Description

Flowers are borne in clusters called umbrels with 6 tepals and a raised crown-like structure in the center of the flower called a corona.

Tulbaghia: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Tulbaghia: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Tulbaghia: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Tulbaghia: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Tulbaghia: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Tulbaghia: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Tulbaghia: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Tulbaghia Leaves

Tulbaghia: Leaf Description

Long linear grass-like green leaves with a garlic odor when crushed

Tulbaghia: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Tulbaghia: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Tulbaghia: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Tulbaghia: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Tulbaghia: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Tulbaghia: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Tulbaghia: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Tulbaghia: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Tulbaghia Stem

Tulbaghia: Stem Description

Straight green stems

Tulbaghia: Stem Color

grass
Green

Tulbaghia: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Tulbaghia: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Tulbaghia Whole Plant Traits

Tulbaghia: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Tulbaghia: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Tulbaghia: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Tulbaghia: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Tulbaghia: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Tulbaghia Cultural Conditions

Tulbaghia: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Tulbaghia: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Tulbaghia: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Tulbaghia: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Tulbaghia: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Tulbaghia Landscape

Tulbaghia: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Tulbaghia: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Tulbaghia: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Tulbaghia: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland