How to Grow and Care for Society Garlic

An Edible Groundcover of the Amaryllis family

The Spruce / Randi Rhoades

Society Garlic is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial.

Delicate, tubular, star-shaped flowers are borne atop one-foot-tall grassy foliage.

With the flowers, this groundcover can reach a humble height of two feet.

Blooms are usually small and lilac-lavender.

Eight to 20 flowers make up each cluster.

Blooms last from early summer to autumn.

However, they are in the same family asonion, theAmaryllis(Amaryllidaceae) family.

Maintenance for this tender perennial is low in USDA gardening zones 7 through 10.

Society garlic seeds will germinate quickly and plants will reach flowering size shortly thereafter.

Pair with the backdrop of darker foliage such asblack mondo grass(Ophiopogon planiscapus’Nigrescens') for contrast.

Because society garlic grows so vigorously and stays low to the ground, consider planting it as a groundcover.

Fortunately, this potent scent also makes it deer resistant.

For the showiest flower displays, establish tubers in full sun.

Soil

Give society garlic light or sandy soil with a pH between 6.8 and 7.5.

Water plants slowly and deeply in case there is a drought in spring or summer.

It’s important that you’re careful not to overwater the plant.

Tubers are susceptible to rot, especially when planted in soggy or wet soil.

Established plants can survive extended droughts, moderate frosts, and light freezes.

Remove any foliage that may be damaged by frost.

South Africa’s Dutch settlers used it in the place of more traditionalgarlic.

The greens of society garlic can be cooked similar to chives, and the bulbs similar to traditional garlic.

Use it to garnish any dish, such as a salad or dessert, with a society garlic flower.

Begin by digging up any overgrown clumps in late autumn or early winter, after they have finished flowering.

In cold-winter climates, grow society garlic in containers.

Give the plant especially bright sunlight and bring it inside before the first frost.

If grown outdoors, society garlic plants rarely attract insects.

Those grown in greenhouses orpotted indoorsfor winter may attract aphids or whiteflies.

Spread a layer of crushedeggshellsor other gritty material around the base of outdoor plants to discourage any soft-bodied pests.