Not Lavender, Not Basil: The Purple Summer-Blooming Herb That Brightens Rocky Gardens

When it comes to purple flowering herbs, lavender and basil usually come to mind as both have ornamental and showy blooms that brighten the garden during the summer. There is another purple flowering herb to consider, however, called society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea). Just like its lavender and basil counterparts, society garlic has showy lilac-pink flowers that appear during the summer. The pollinator-friendly blooms grow in clustered umbels, and they sit on top of tall stalks that rise well above its grass-like leaves. 

Society garlic is resistant to deer and rabbits, so you won't have to constantly look for new ways to keep critters out of your yard. Just keep in mind that despite its name, it is not related to garlic. Rather, the herb gets its name from the distinct garlic scent it releases when bruised and crushed. As for its size, the society garlic grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads to around 1 foot wide. The plant also forms into tidy clumps over time.

You can fit it very nicely into herb gardens, rock gardens, or border plantings, although you might want to keep it away from heavily trafficked paths if you want to avoid a constant garlic smell whenever its leaves are brushed. It is also worth noting here that society garlic is only hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. If you live outside these zones, you will have to plant it as an annual or grow it in containers or pots and take it inside during the winter.

The first thing you want to make sure of when growing society garlic is to avoid soggy or waterlogged soil. It needs something well-drained; ideally, gravelly or sandy loam. If grown in wet soil, the plant becomes prone to root rot. As for propagation, you can grow society garlic both from seed or division. Just keep in mind that if grown from seed, it will take some time before it starts to flower. It is also important to make sure that you pick a spot with full sun when growing society garlic in your garden. While it can tolerate some shade, it won't flower well without sunlight.

You can also plant society garlic in containers and pots as long as they have good drainage and are placed in full sun. If, however, your outside area isn't that sunny, it is better to skip society garlic and look into other flowering and easy-to-grow herbs that thrive in shade. Nevertheless, once planted, keep it well-watered, especially during the first growing season. This helps plants develop a robust root system. Once established, society garlic plants are extremely heat and drought-tolerant.

In normal garden conditions, they don't even need to be watered — rainfall is sufficient. Fertilizing is a similar story, too. They are not heavy feeders and will grow happily in moderately fertile soils as long as you deadhead them to boost flowering and divide the clumps every three to four years. Just make sure you're aware of which mistakes to avoid when deadheading your garden's flowers.