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Products > Tulbaghia 'Fairy Star'
 
Tulbaghia 'Fairy Star' - Fairy Star Society Garlic

San Marcos Growers has permanently closed as a business. This is an archived page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Tulbaghia 'Fairy Star'
 
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Perennial
Family: Alliaceae (~Amaryllidaceae)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Flower Color: Mauve
Bloomtime: Spring/Summer
Fragrant Flowers: Yes
Parentage: (T. comminsii x T. violacea)
Height: <1 foot
Width: <1 foot
Exposure: Full Sun
Seaside: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F
Tulbaghia 'Fairy Star' (Fairy Star Society Garlic) - A small clumping evergreen perennial to 12 to 14 inches tall in flower with tuberous roots from which emerge flexible narrow 6 to 8 inches long light green grass-like leaves. In spring through late summer arise the foot 12- to 14-inch-tall stalks holding umbels of mauve pink trumpet-shaped flowers that emit a pleasant light clove fragrance that is particularly strong in the evening.

Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil with occasional to regular irrigation - somewhat drought tolerant as is drought deciduous when not irrigated in summer months but will flower longer and remain in foliage with more regular irrigation. It can be winter deciduous as well so cold hardy y to temperatures to 20°F or below. This cultivar is noted as having a good tolerance to near seashore conditions. This very attractive smaller hybrid Tulbaghia has flowers that dance in a breeze and is great for using in small container, edging a pathway, in a rock garden, at the front of a meadow planting, in a crevice or wall planting and, with its fragrant flowers, attracts butterflies and bees.

Tulbaghia 'Fairy Star' is a cross between Tulbaghia cominsii, a petite bulb forming species with thin grassy leaves and the durable Society Garlic, Tulbaghia violacea. It was a selection made from plants growing at Cotswold Garden Flowers in Evesham in the UK by one of nurseryman Bob Brown’s family members.

The genus was named to honor Ryk Tulbagh (1699-1771) the early governor of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. We also grow many Tulbaghia violacea cultivars including Tulbaghia violacea 'Edinburgh', Tulbaghia violacea 'Blanca', Tulbaghia violacea Purpleicious ['Hinetul1'], Tulbaghia violacea 'Oro Verde', Tulbaghia violacea 'Emerisa White', Tulbaghia violacea 'Savannah Lightning' and Tulbaghia violacea 'Blanca' as well as Tulbaghia simmleri (AKA T. fragrans), Tulbaghia simmleri 'Alba' and the hybrids Tulbaghia 'Ashanti', Tulbaghia 'Flamingo', Tulbaghia 'Himba' vand Tulbaghia 'Cosmic'. 

The information displayed on this page about Tulbaghia 'Fairy Star' is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.

 
We closed for regular business at the end of 2025 in order for the property to be developed for affordable housing.
Our gates remain closed but we will open them by appointment to interested parties as we liquidate remaining supplies and equipment.
 
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