Overview

Tulbaghia is a tufted herbaceous perennial in the genus Tulbaghia, part of the Amaryllidaceae family, with grey silver green foliage. Tulbaghia grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H3. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, rock garden and flower borders and beds.

About

Tulbaghia, commonly called society garlic, is a tufted herbaceous perennial in the Amaryllidaceae with silver-green leaves and a clumping habit. It flowers in umbels from June to September. Plant it in a sunny, well-drained site and choose a south- or west-facing, sheltered position. Its H3 rating means it is borderline hardy in the UK and benefits from protection in the coldest gardens.

About the genus

Tulbaghia is a genus of monocotyledonous herbaceous perennial bulbs native to Africa, belonging to the amaryllis family. It is the sole genus in the tribe Tulbaghieae, which in the onion subfamily. The genus was named for Ryk Tulbagh (1699–1771), one time governor of The Cape of Good Hope.

Wikipedia contributors, "Tulbaghia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Tulbaghia

In the garden

Tulbaghia is a tufted herbaceous perennial in the Amaryllidaceae, valued for its grey-silver green foliage and terminal umbels of flowers. It is traditionally grown for its architectural clumps of strap-like leaves and upright flower stalks that appear through the summer months. In the UK it flowers from June to September. Give Tulbaghia a position in full sun with well-drained loam or sandy soil; it tolerates acid, neutral or alkaline pH so soil chemistry is not usually a limitation. Choose a south- or west-facing, sheltered aspect to reduce exposure to winter wet and cold. Its H3 (borderline) hardiness means it will cope in milder UK gardens but benefits from sharp drainage and a protected site in colder areas. Use Tulbaghia at the front of borders, in rock gardens, or in city and courtyard settings where its tufted habit fits compact spaces. It also suits cottage and informal planting schemes, and will work well in mixed beds where a sheltered, sunny aspect is available. Expect summer umbels from June to September that sit above the foliage and provide seasonal structure to the planting.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Tulbaghia

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H3

Plant details

Tulbaghia size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Tufted

Foliage

Grey Silver Green

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Rock garden, Flower borders and beds

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Tulbaghia

Propagation

Seed, Division in spring

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions