Wild Garlic
Wild Garlic – Tulbaghia violacea
'If you have a garden, you probably have a clump of Wild Garlic growing somewhere. If not, you will recognise it from shopping centre, complex and office gardens as it is a very common landscaping plant
Indigenous to South Africa, it is easy to grow, pretty with its violet flowers and a waterwise addition to the garden.
Aphids dislike Wild Garlic so, if you are growing veggies or roses, a few plants in the beds will help repel them.
Moles are not fond of the smell either, but they tend to move on to another spot if they are unhappy, which could be in your lawn! However, contrary to popular belief, moles do not eat your plants. They just make a mess with their heaps of sand, and they can damage the roots of plants when they are digging around. The good news is that they love slugs and snails, and a whole host of other bugs that would love to eat your plants!
And do you have a snake problem? Yes? This is the herb that will keep them out. When I lived on a small holding, we planted them around the house and cottages and, although we often saw snakes on the property, they were never close to our home.
Culinary Uses
Although it smells like garlic, you do not get garlic breath, hence the name ‘Society Garlic’.
The leaves can be chopped and added to salads, veggies, soups and stews and the flowers are lovely in a salad.
I use the whole bulb in the same way as spring onions. Either raw in salads or steamed with vegetables and they excellent when stir-fried.
A RECIPE FOR CHARD & WILD GARLIC
Medicinal Uses
Infusions of the leaves treat fevers, colds and coughs.
Whole plant decoctions are used for stomach problems.
Raw leaves are rubbed onto the temples for sinus headaches. In traditional medicine, root decoctions are used as an enema to treat severe constipation
Wild Garlic – Tulbaghia violacea
POST CATEGORY
Become a
HERB WHIZZ
How do you learn about herbs?
By joining the
Barefoot Herb Club
Where you discover one new herb every single week!
