Tulbaghia 'John May's Special'

RHS Plant Profile
society garlic 'John May's Special'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Tulbaghia 'John May's Special'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

A rhizomatous perennial to 80cm in height, with grey-green basal leaves and violet flowers in terminal umbels in summer and early autumn. Strong growing

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Tulbaghia are bulbous or rhizomatous perennials with linear, onion-scented leaves and umbels of small, star-shaped flowers with a small cup-like corona
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows well in any moderately fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. Protect in all but the mildest areas over winter with a deep dry mulch or bring container grown plants into an unheated greenhouse

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Wall side borders
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free