Plant Type

Perennial, Bulb

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Grey Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Rich, Poor, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Patio, Raised Planter

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Mass Planting, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies

Golden garlic is an ornamental flowering onion with star-shaped, half-inch, bright yellow flowers in loose clusters on leafless 9 to 15 inch-tall stalks. Blooms in late spring, and has flat, tulip-like, blue-green, basal leaves. All parts of this plant have an oniony smell when cut or bruised, however this plant is generally considered to be a non-edible ornamental. Also commonly called lily leek and golden garlic. Use in a perennial or shrub border.

Grow in average, medium-moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun, but appreciates some light afternoon shade in our hot summer climate. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Best in rich, sandy-loams. Plant bulbs in fall. Plants will naturalize by both offsets and self-seeding, and a modest planting of bulbs can colonize an area rather quickly in optimum growing conditions. Not considered overly aggressive, however. Deadhead flowers before seed sets to help control any unwanted spread. See Guides for planting details.