Tulbaghia violacea 'Pearl'
Common name(s): white-flowered society garlic
Description: 'Pearl' is a white-flowered form with pink buds that open to relatively large white flowers with tight, overlapping petals. T. violacea is a bulbous, clumping perennial native to South Africa. It was aptly named by Dutch colonizers who found that the mild garlic flavor of the leaves and flowers did not result in offensive breath and was therefore an acceptable substitute for garlic at high society events. Both the leaves and flowers are edible. It has also been used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Position: full sun and well-draining soil
Uses: medicine, culinary- salads, soups, pasta, etc.
Winter Hardiness: to 5 F and below
We have several different cultivars but they are all more or less equal in terms of culinary potency and application. The main differences are in shapes, sizes, and colors of their flowers and leaves.
T. violacea 'Pearl'
a white-flowered form with pink buds that open to relatively large white flowers
T. violacea 'Silver Lace'
a variegated form with white leaf margins, possibly less hardy than other forms
T. violacea 'Snow Flurry'
our own introduction; a white-flowered form with loose petals