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Tulbaghia violacea 'Emerisa White' (Emerisa White Society Garlic) - A clumping evergreen perennial to 2 feet tall with fat, tuberous roots from which emerge flexible green grass-like 1 foot long by 1/4 inch wide gray-blue leaves. From spring into fall, and sometimes longer in frost free areas, arise slender stalks to 18 inches high topped by an umbel of about 10 to 20 small white flowers that have a blush of pink. The foliage has a strong garlic-like odor on warm days and when bruised by touching or from frost.
Plant in coastal full sun to light shade with occasional to regular irrigation - somewhat drought tolerant but always looks better with more regular watering. Should prove hardy and evergreen to around 23°F and root hardy to around 0°F and useful in USDA Zone 7 and above. Makes a nice low border plant or for the edge of the lawn, a pond. Keep in mind the foliage smell as it can be very strong and some find it objectionable. This smell is noted to keep animals (cats, dogs, deer away and perhaps even snails and slugs) but use rubber gloves when deadheading and resist the temptation to use the flowers indoors for flower arrangements. The leaves and flowers can be used raw or cooked in food preparation.
Tulbaghia violacea comes from southern Africa (KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Province) where it grows along forest margins and stream banks and was used for food and medicine by the indigenous Zulu tribes. The genus was named to honor Ryk Tulbagh (1699-1771) the early governor of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and the specific epithet means violet-like in reference to the color of the flowers. It is called Society Garlic, possibly because the scent is not quite as strong its relative, true garlic (Allium sativum). This plant was a selection made by Emerisa Gardens from a block of regular purple flowering Tulbaghia violacea growing at their nursery in Santa Rosa California.
We also grow several other Tulbaghia violacea cultivars including Tulbaghia violacea 'Edinburgh', Tulbaghia violacea 'Blanca', Tulbaghia violacea 'Oro Verde', Tulbaghia violacea Purpleicious ['Hinetul1'], Tulbaghia violacea 'Savannah Lightning' as well as Tulbaghia simmleri (AKA T. fragrans), Tulbaghia simmleri 'Alba' and the hybrids Tulbaghia 'Ashanti', Tulbaghia 'Cosmic', Tulbaghia 'Flamingo', Tulbaghia 'Fairy Pink' and Tulbaghia 'Himba'.
This information about Tulbaghia violacea 'Emerisa White' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate 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 that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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