How to grow ornamental garlic

Ornamental garlic flowers at the end of spring with purple, spherical flower heads up to 15 cm across. It creates a beautiful effect in any garden and makes it truly unique. And just like ordinary Czech garlic, ornamental garlic is not that difficult to grow. Try planting it next to lavender, for example: alongside its flowers, it will certainly stand out.

Growing garlic

Ornamental garlic originally comes from sunny steppes, which is why it loves sunny spots with well-drained soil. It does not mind a lower supply of nutrients or a short-term lack of water. Plant the bulbs in autumn, ideally at the end of September or in October, as you would tulips or daffodils, which go perfectly with them. The plant usually flowers in late spring and early summer, but some varieties also flower in August. If you do not want to move the plants elsewhere, there is no need to lift the bulbs from the ground, as they cope well with winter.

Grow ornamental garlic not only in beds but also in containers on balconies or terraces. You can also plant it along paths. When planting new bulbs, set them at a depth of at least about 10 cm, and larger bulbs even deeper (15 to 20 cm). But be careful: it is better to take bulbs out of containers for the winter and let them overwinter in a cool, dark room, such as a cellar, because in a container they could freeze during harder frosts and low temperatures.

Besides being very decorative, ornamental garlic has other useful qualities. Firstly, it is very attractive to insects such as bees, bumblebees and butterflies, so it will draw them to your garden. Secondly, as the name suggests, its leaves and flowers have a slight garlic scent that many pests dislike. That is why it is a good idea to plant these plants in beds as well where you grow ordinary vegetables such as lettuce, carrots or, for example, strawberries.

The most popular varieties

• Blue garlic: a shorter variety that usually flowers as early as June.
• Round-headed garlic: flowers in July and grows to a height of between 40 and 80 cm.
• Giant garlic: can grow up to 180 cm tall and flowers in May or June

Shorter types of ornamental garlic

As we have already mentioned, ornamental garlic is generally undemanding and does not need special conditions. You will most likely manage to grow it in rock gardens on slopes, in soils poorer in nutrients, or on extensive green roofs. Less well-known short species include:

• Mountain garlic: has beautiful pink flowers. It comes from the Caucasus mountains, so it will thrive in rock gardens.
• Golden garlic: grows up to 40 cm and its short stems certainly do not rise above the leaves. It flowers from May to June.
• Karatau garlic: flowers from April and is known for its large, broad leaves. The plants reach up to 25 cm.

The bulbs survive in the ground

And they last for several years, usually 3 to 5 years. As we have already mentioned, ornamental garlic mainly needs a sunny, drier spot. It does not like wet or heavy soil.

In a suitable spot, ornamental garlic also spreads easily by offset bulbs, which form at the base of the mother bulb. You can separate them in autumn and plant them on their own. The plants that grow from them will flower after two to three years.

You will not put ornamental garlic in your pasta, but it will look great in your garden or on your terrace.