Tulbaghia violacea

There is a charm in the old-fashioned perennials that linger at the edge of memory and border. Tulbaghia violacea, more commonly known as Society Garlic, is one such plant—humble in bearing, yet noble in endurance, and possessed of a fragrance that speaks of kitchen gardens and sunlit borders long tended by patient hands.

Native to the southern plains of Africa, this sun-loving perennial thrives where heat and hardship would wilt more delicate company. From a modest underground bulb, it sends up slender, blue-green leaves that shimmer faintly in the sun and release a distinctive garlic-like scent when bruised—a defense and delight in one, said to keep deer and pests at bay while perfuming the gardener’s path with rustic clarity.

Come spring and on through the heat of summer, Society Garlic unfurls its rosy-lavender blooms atop upright, wiry stems that rise one to two feet above the foliage—modest bouquets that sway like dancers in the evening breeze. These edible flowers—yes, both bloom and leaf are fit for the plate—add both beauty and bite to the Southern potager.

Best planted in well-drained, full sun garden beds or borders, Tulbaghia violacea is a quiet colonizer, spreading gently with time, never rushed but always steady. In regions where winter bites hard, she may ask for the grace of a lifted bulb or sheltered nook. But in milder climes, she remains evergreen and unbothered, a year-round companion for those who favor the resilient over the fussy.

Let her edge your pathways or soften the corners of a dry garden. She will thrive with little water, bask in the sun, and reward you with a long season of bloom and balm. As with all things Southern and steadfast, her beauty lies not in flash—but in her faithfulness.