Variegated Society Garlic

Variegated Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea 'Variegata') earns its place twice over: cream and green striped foliage that lifts a dull border all year, and mauve pink flower heads through the warm months. It stays neat at about 40cm tall and 30cm across, and tolerates drought, heat, frost, salt and poor soil.

Why you'll love it

• Variegated foliage that works all year. The cream edged leaves hold their pattern through every season, so the border keeps interest long after the flowers finish.
• Compact and predictable. At 40cm by 30cm it edges a path without ever needing to be cut back to size.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and content in poor soil, which covers most of the difficult spots in an Australian garden.
• Long flowering. Slender stems carry clusters of mauve to purple flowers over a long warm season, held clear above the foliage.
• Edible for the kitchen. The leaves and flowers have a mild garlic flavour and stand in for garlic chives in salads.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart in a single row for a neat continuous edge. The clumps merge within a season or two into an unbroken variegated line, and the pale leaf margins lift a shaded path.

Mass planting. Blocks at 30cm centres are where this plant looks best, roughly eleven plants per square metre. A drift of variegated foliage reads as a deliberate decision.

Rockeries, pots and coastal gardens. Sharp drainage suits it, so rockeries and raised pockets are ideal. A pot 300mm or wider holds a clump for years.

Growing variegated society garlic in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun keeps the variegation crisp and the flowering heavy; part shade is tolerated but the clumps loosen and flower less. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens, close to the whole country. It is frost hardy, though the foliage looks tired after a hard frost and freshens in spring.

Soil. Free draining and not too rich. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal, and it manages poor ground where little else will edge a path. On clay, plant into a raised bed.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer while the clump settles, then only in extended dry spells. A light application of complete slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps the leaf colour strong.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems at the base as they finish, and tidy browned leaves in late winter. Divide congested clumps every three or four years in spring, the simplest way to get more plants for free.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in 140mm pots in packs of ten and 200mm pots in packs of six. Both are established clumps rather than seedlings, and buying in packs means enough plants to complete an edging run in one delivery. A pack of ten at 30cm spacing covers about 3m of border.

Strappy foliage travels well, though leaves may be creased in the box, which grows out within a few weeks. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. One thing to know: the leaves are edible for people, but this plant belongs to the onion and garlic family, which is toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Ideas for low growing plants along a border
• Browse the full variegated foliage range
• Compare plants suited to mass planting
• Plants for rockeries and dry banks

Common questions

How many plants do I need per metre?

At 30cm spacing, between three and four plants per metre of row. For a solid block, allow eleven per square metre.

Does it really smell of garlic?

Only when the leaves are crushed, brushed hard or mown. Left alone the plant has no noticeable scent, and the flowers are faintly sweet rather than pungent.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. It belongs to the same group as onions and garlic, which is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. Choose a different edging plant if your pet grazes garden foliage.