Tulbaghia maritima

RHS Plant Profile

sea society garlic

Synonyms

Tulbaghia cepacea var. maritima
Tulbaghia violacea var. maritima

Herbaceous Perennial

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

A hardy, bulbous, clump-forming perennial to 40cm with narrowly linear, glossy green, aromatic foliage. Fragrant, lilac-pink flowers appear on tall stems above the foliage from mid-summer to early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

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

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

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 Flower 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: Correct
Plant Range: South Africa (Cape)

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 seed, sown when ripe, in containers in a cold frame or division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free