Tulbaghia violacea
Tulbaghia violacea
Plant type
Perennial
Height / spread
Approx. 50–70 cm tall / approx. 40–50 cm wide
Flowering
Late spring to summer (often continuing into autumn)
Star-shaped flowers borne in loose umbels
Flower colour
Lilac to violet-purple
Personal evaluation
Tulbaghia violacea is the botanical species from which many cultivars and selections have been developed. Unlike cultivar names such as ‘Pearl’, ‘Flamingo’ or ‘Purple Eye’, this is not a bred or selected cultivar but a naturally occurring species. Plants can therefore be raised from seed, and most individuals are uniform, although occasional natural variation may occur.
Position
Full sun to light partial shade
Soil
Well-drained; dry to moderately moist
Water requirements
Low — very drought-tolerant once established
Maintenance
Very low-maintenance
Removing spent flowers encourages prolonged flowering
Hardiness
Moderately hardy
In the ground, plant in a sheltered position; in containers, light winter protection is recommended
Uses
Borders, containers, planters, prairie-style plantings, climate-adaptive gardens
Additional features
Aromatic • Edible • Pollinator-friendly
Origin / propagation
Commonly grown from seed or by division