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Tulbaghia 'Ashanti' PP27,404 (Large Flowering Society Garlic) - A clumping evergreen perennial with tuberous roots from which emerge flexible grass-like 1 foot long by 1/4-inch-wide bluish grass-like foliage. From spring through summer arise slender stalks to 18 to 24 inches high topped by a tight full umbel of bright lavender-pink flowers that have a slightly darker corona and tube in the center of each flower, which on this variety are larger and longer flowering than typical Society Garlic.
Plant in full sun to light shade with occasional to regular irrigation - as with Tulbaghia violacea this plant should prove somewhat drought tolerant but will always looks better with more regular irrigation. Should prove hardy and evergreen to at least 25°F and root hardy to colder temperatures. Use as a low border plant and, like Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), it can also be used in cooking. Because of it slender foliage and showy long flowering bloom, this is one of our favorite of the Society Garlics!
The genus was named to honor Ryk Tulbagh (1699-1771) the early governor of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The cultivar 'Asanti' is a hybrid created by Ivan van der Walt of Pretoria, South Africa in 2001 and the result of crossing Tulbaghia violacea, the common Society Garlic that is widespread in South Africa and usually has light purple flowers and foliage that smells of garlic with the pollen parent Tulbaghia cominsii, a species that comes from Eastern Cape species with starry white flowers that have a clove-like aroma.
This plant was in the Dallas Arboretum Plant Trials from 2011 to 2013 where it achieved certification as a "Flameproof Plant", meaning it withstand intense Texas heat from spring to fall while scoring exceptionally high marks - in this case 3.78 out of 4! It was introduced in South Africa by Fisk Horticulture and received US Plant Patent PP27,404 in November 2016 and marketed in the US by Star Roses and Plants. The image on this page courtesy of Frisk Horticulture.
We also grow several 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 the sweet smelling Tulbaghia simmleri (AKA T. fragrans), Tulbaghia simmleri 'Alba' and the hybrids Tulbaghia 'Cosmic', Tulbaghia 'Flamingo', Tulbaghia 'Fairy Pink' and Tulbaghia 'Himba'.
The information about Tulbaghia 'Ashanti' PP27,404 displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
