Tulbaghi fragransCondensed Version:

The two most popular tulbaghias with gardeners are the Cape Wild Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) and Sweet Wild Garlic (Tulbaghia simmleri), because they have attractive flowers throughout the growing season and are proven low maintenance landscaping plants.

(Cape Wild Garlic)

Cape Wild Garlic can reach a height of +-35 to 50cm; forming a clump +-25 to 30cm wide. The long, narrow, strap-like, slightly fleshy leaves smell strongly of garlic when bruised. Clusters of up to 20 mauve, tubular flowers, are held above the leaves on a tall flower stalk, and appear over a long period from September to April.

It can be planted in both full sun and partial shade; is hardy to frost and thrives in hot, dry beds, making it useful for those difficult hot corners of the garden; requiring only moderate watering during dry spells to keep it looking great.

(Sweet Wild Garlic)

Sweet Wild Garlic has grey-green leaves and larger flowers than Tulbaghia violacea. The lavender-pink flowers are excellent cut flowers and will fill an entire room with their sweet fragrance.  In its summer-rainfall habitat it will flower from spring to autumn, whereas at Kirstenbosch, with its winter-rainfall climate, it flowers during the winter months and into spring. The leaves are not as strong smelling as Tulbaghia violacea; smelling of onions if crushed.

It is easy to grow and hardy to moderate frost, but is not hardy to prolonged freezing temperatures. It also prefers a lightly shaded position, or morning sun and afternoon shade. The plant grows +-20 to 35cm tall and wide; is suitable for temperate and subtropical areas, and will tolerate humidity.

Tulbaghia simmleri Full Version:

Description, History & Interesting Facts:

Tulbaghia are bulbous or rhizomatous clump-forming perennials with linear, leaves and umbels of small, star-shaped flowers with a small cup-like corona. It is a small genus of about 20 species from southern Africa, and several cultivars exist for some species.

The Latin name Tulbaghia was named after Ryk Tulbagh (1699-1771), governor of the Cape of Good Hope, who corresponded with and sent plants from the Cape to Carl Linnaeus; violacea means violet-coloured.

The two most popular tulbaghias with gardeners are Tulbaghia violacea and Tulbaghia simmleri, because they have attractive flowers throughout the growing season and are proven low maintenance landscaping plants.

Most of the species of tulbaghia are adapted for moth pollination, with flowers that become sweetly scented at night. Tulbaghia violacea, however, seems to be pollinated by butterflies and bees because it is scented during the day.

Cape Wild Garlic, utswelane, isihaqa (Tulbaghia violacea)

This is a very cold hardy and fast growing little evergreen plant which can be found growing wild in the Little Karoo, the Eastern Cape and in Kwazulu-Natal; commonly found growing on moist sandy coastal soils, near rivers, in grasslands and on rocky slopes. It can reach a height of +-35 to 50cm; forming a clump +-25 to 30cm wide. The long, narrow, strap-like, slightly fleshy leaves smell strongly of garlic when bruised. Clusters of up to 20 mauve, tubular flowers, are held above the leaves on a tall flower stalk, and appear over a long period from September to April. The flowers also smell of garlic when bruised. The fruits are small 3 sided capsules which split open to disperse the flattened, hard black seeds. It is often used in hybridization with other tulbaghia species.

This popular water-wise plant is so adaptable; growing in both full sun and partial shade. It is hardy to frost and thrives in hot, dry beds, making it useful for those difficult hot corners of the garden; requiring only moderate watering during dry spells to keep it looking great.

Variegated Wild Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea 'Silver Lace')

'Silver Lace' is a hybrid cultivar with attractive variegated grey and white striped leaves that are also garlic scented when bruised. Umbels of delicate mauve flowers on long stalks are borne throughout most of the year; and are sweetly scented at night. It grows +-30 to 50cm tall and can thrive in very poor soils.

Sweet Wild Garlic, Fragrant Tulbaghia, Soetwildeknoffel, Aandblommetjie (Tulbaghia simmleri) (= Tulbaghia fragrans)

This evergreen  summer rainfall species is endemic to a relatively small area in the northern Drakensberg of Mpumalanga and in Limpopo, growing in isolation on rocky ledges, or in fairly dense colonies, in light but humid mountain forests at moderate altitudes between 960 to 1120m.

It has grey-green leaves and larger flowers than Tulbaghia violacea. The lavender-pink flowers are excellent cut flowers and will fill an entire room with their sweet fragrance. In its summer-rainfall habitat it will flower from spring to autumn, whereas at Kirstenbosch, with its winter-rainfall climate, it flowers during the winter months and into spring. The leaves are not as strong smelling as Tulbaghia violacea; smelling of onions if crushed.

It is easy to grow and hardy to moderate frost, but is not hardy to prolonged freezing temperatures. It also prefers a lightly shaded position, or morning sun and afternoon shade. The plant grows +-20 to 35cm tall and wide; is suitable for temperate and subtropical areas, and will tolerate humidity.

Tulbaghia fragrans 'Alba'

'Alba' has pure white flowers.

Uses:

Tulbaghia violacea is used in a variety of ways by indigenous people. The Zulus plant it around huts to keep snakes away; and the rhizome is also used to make an aphrodisiac medicine. Because of its strong smell when crushed, the leaves may discourage moles from the garden. The smell also repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes when crushed on the skin; and may be effective in discouraging cats from the garden.

Health Benefits:

Several species of Tulbaghia have economic and medicinal importance; and a recent study of Tulbaghia violacea has also shown properties which may hold the potential for treating high blood pressure (hypertension). The leaves and rhizomes have found various medicinal uses, including the treatment of coughs, colds, flu, fevers, tuberculosis, asthma, and oesophageal cancer. The bulb has also been used as a remedy for intestinal worms. Wild garlic may prove to have the same or similar antibacterial and antifungal activities as has been scientifically verified for real garlic.

Tulbaghia simmleri is not generally used in traditional medicine, but is sometimes used as a substitute for T. violacea. The leaves are eaten fresh or cooked; but it seems that the much weaker garlic-like smell would indicate that it contains a lower concentration of the active sulphur compounds, thus making it a less effective medicine.

Pets:

The leaves can be used in dog kennels to keep fleas and ticks away; and the strong smell may keep cats out of your garden.

Click here to read my article on herbs that are good for cats and dogs

Culinary:

The Zulus use the leaves and flowers as spinach and as a hot, peppery seasoning with meat and potatoes. Both the leaves and flowers can be used in salads and other dishes much like chives and the bulbs can be used like spring onions.

In the Garden:

Wild garlic is a popular groundcover for large open areas on pavements, in complexes, office parks and shopping centre parking lots. It can also be used to good effect in rockeries, courtyard gardens and as an edging plant.

Companion Planting:

Wild garlic is a good companion plant for roses and other shrubs prone to aphid attack.

Tulbaghia violaceaCultivation/Propagation:

(Tulbaghia violacea) is a very popular water-wise plant; growing in both full sun and partial shade. It is hardy to frost and thrives in hot, dry beds, making it useful for those difficult hot corners of the garden; requiring only moderate watering during dry spells to keep it looking great.

(Tulbaghia simmleri) is easy to grow and prefers a lightly shaded position, or morning sun and afternoon shade. It is suitable for temperate and subtropical areas, and will tolerate humidity. It is hardy to moderate frost, but is not hardy to prolonged freezing temperatures.

Tulbaghias grows very easily in most well-drained soils. Add some compost to the planting holes and mulch annually to keep the plants growing vigorously and blooming. Although these tough plants will tolerate long periods of drought, they thrive in the garden if watered moderately during prolonged hot, dry spells. Leave the plants undisturbed for as long as possible, but very large clumps can be divided in spring or autumn.

Propagate from seed sown in spring into deep seedling trays, to be planted out during their second year. Propagation is very easy by division of large clumps. Once the clumps that have been divided, they should be left undisturbed for as long as possible.

Problems, Pests & Diseases:

Tulbaghias seldom fall prey to pests and diseases, but slugs and snails can cause considerable damage to the foliage.

Toxicity:

Wild garlic is not poisonous.

Caution:

The information contained within this website is for educational purposes only, recording the traditional uses of specific plants as recorded through history. Always seek advice from a medical practitioner before starting a home treatment programme.