Allium sativum /ˈæliəm/
Common name: Garlic
Allium sativum is a bulbous perennial in the onion family, grown worldwide for its pungent, segmented bulbs. Each bulb is composed of individual cloves, each of which can be planted to produce a new plant. Believed to be native to Central Asia, garlic has been cultivated for thousands of years as both a food and a traditional medicine.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun
Water
Moderate; keep soil evenly moist, reduce near harvest
Soil
Rich, loose, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Zones 3–8
Mature height
30–90 cm (1–3 ft)
Pet safe
Toxic to cats and dogs if ingested
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
Propagate by planting individual cloves separated from a bulb. Plant each clove point-up about 5 cm deep in loose, rich soil, ideally in autumn, and keep evenly moist until the tops yellow.
Fun facts
- Garlic has been cultivated for over 5,000 years and was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
- The compound allicin, responsible for garlic's distinctive smell, forms only when a clove is crushed or cut.
- Hardneck varieties send up a curly flower stalk called a scape, which is edible and prized in cooking.
- Garlic is traditionally planted in autumn so the cloves undergo cold stratification before sprouting.