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Society Garlic
Tulbaghia violacea
Reviewed by Kiersten Rankel M.S.
QUICK ANSWER
Clump division is the fastest and most reliable method and produces a flowering plant in 1 to 2 weeks. Lift a mature clump in spring or fall, pull it apart by hand, and replant the divisions.
Seed propagation works in 8 to 12 months and produces many plants from a single flower head, but seedlings take a year before they bloom.
Seed propagation works in 8 to 12 months and produces many plants from a single flower head, but seedlings take a year before they bloom.
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Division
Best when your clump is at least two years old
From seed
Best for growing many plants at once
Division
Time
1–2 weeks
Level
Beginner
Success rate
High
You'll need
Garden fork or spade
Sharp knife or pruners
Compost or aged manure
Watering can
1 gallon pots if not replanting in ground
1
Pick the right time
Divide in early spring before flowering or in early fall after the bloom flush. Avoid summer when the plant is putting energy into flowers. Society garlic in zones 7 to 10 tolerates division in either season equally well.
2
Lift the entire clump
Slide a garden fork four inches outside the clump and rock it back to lift the whole root mass. Society garlic forms tight rhizomes with stringy roots that come up cleanly when the soil is moist. Water the day before lifting if the ground is dry.
3
Pull apart by hand
Shake off loose soil and tease the clump into smaller sections with your fingers. Each division should have at least three to five fans of leaves attached to a chunk of rhizome. Use a knife only if rhizomes will not separate by hand.
4
Trim long roots and leaves
Cut the leaves back to four inches above the rhizome to reduce water loss while the divisions reestablish. Trim any dead or damaged roots back to firm white tissue.
Shorter leaves and fewer demands on the roots help divisions settle in faster.
Shorter leaves and fewer demands on the roots help divisions settle in faster.
5
Replant immediately
Dig holes the same depth as the rhizome was originally growing. Set divisions at the same level, fill in with soil amended with compost, and firm gently. Space divisions 8 to 12 inches apart so they have room to fill in.
6
Water and wait
Water deeply right after planting and again every three days for the first two weeks. New leaves emerging from the center confirm the division has rooted. After that, treat the divisions like established plants and water only during dry spells.
WATCH FOR
Divisions that flop and yellow within the first week. The roots are not anchoring and the leaves are pulling water faster than the plant can replace it. Trim the leaves back another two inches and shade the divisions for a few days.
From seed
Time
8–12 months
Level
Beginner
Success rate
High
You'll need
Fresh society garlic seeds (under 6 months old)
Seed starting tray with drainage
Standard seed starting mix
Clear plastic dome or plastic wrap
4 inch pots for transplanting
1
Collect seed in late summer
Watch for spent flower heads in August or September. The seed pods turn from green to papery brown when ripe. Snip pods just before they split and shake the small black seeds onto a paper plate.
2
Sow fresh in fall or spring
Society garlic seeds lose viability within a year, so sow as fresh as possible. Fill a tray with seed starting mix, press seeds into the surface a quarter inch deep, and water gently from below until the surface is evenly moist.
3
Cover and keep warm
Place a clear dome or plastic wrap over the tray to hold humidity. Set in bright indirect light at 65 to 75 degrees. Germination takes 3 to 5 weeks, sometimes longer for older seed.
4
Remove the cover at sprouting
Once half the seeds have sent up grass like shoots, pull the dome to prevent damping off. Move the tray to a sunny window or under grow lights so the seedlings grow stocky rather than leggy.
5
Transplant to 4 inch pots
When seedlings are three inches tall and have three or four leaves, lift them gently with a fork and pot them individually into 4 inch pots with regular potting mix. Water and keep in bright light.
6
Grow on for one season
Keep seedlings in pots for the first growing season and transplant to the garden the following spring after the last frost. Most seed grown society garlic flowers in the second year.
WATCH FOR
Seedlings that yellow and topple over at the soil line within days of germinating. This is damping off from a fungal infection. Remove the dome immediately, improve airflow with a small fan, and let the surface dry between waterings.
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About This Article
Kiersten Rankel M.S.
Botanical Data Lead at Greg · Plant Scientist
Editorial Process
Propagation methods verified against Tulbaghia violacea growth data from Greg's botanical database, cross-referenced with USDA hardiness zone data and published horticultural research.
272+ Greg users growing this plant
USDA hardiness zones 7a–10b