Society Garlic, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Tough, clumping and nearly carefree, society garlic thrives in Southwest Florida sun and sandy soil, with lavender-pink flowers on and off through much of the year. It handles heat, drought and neglect, and deer tend to leave it alone. We deliver and plant 1 gallon plants for borders, walkways and bed edges.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
Society Garlic sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Society Garlic | 1 Gallon |
Society Garlic in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 1 to 2 ft tall and wide; flower stalks reach about 2 ft
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves can burn with frost but regrow from the clump; hardy through SW Florida winters
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 12 to 18 inches apart for a border
- Florida native
- No, native to southern Africa
- Botanical name
- Tulbaghia violacea
Where Society Garlic works in a SW Florida yard
Use society garlic as a low edging along walkways, driveways and bed borders, or in front of taller shrubs where its strappy leaves and flowers add steady color. It tolerates the heat reflecting off concrete, so it works beside pavers and pool decks, and it looks best planted in drifts of five or more.
Blue daze, liriope and muhly grass make good companions.
- Walkway and bed edging
- Low-water borders
- Front of shrub beds
- Containers and planters
How our crew plants it
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart for a border. Our crew sets each crown level with the soil in a hole twice as wide as the pot, backfills with native sand and waters it in, then cleans up. Mulch 2 inches, off the crowns. New plants can get extra water under Lee and Collier rules until they root in.
Care after planting
- Water new plants regularly, then rely on rain and your assigned days; once established it handles dry spells well.
- Cut the foliage back to a few inches in late winter to refresh the clump.
- Divide crowded clumps in spring every few years and replant the divisions.
- One light feeding in spring is plenty, and the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island nitrogen and phosphorus ban (June 1 to September 30) means nothing in summer.
What to watch for
- Crushed or cut leaves smell strongly of garlic, so keep it off narrow paths and away from doorways and seating areas.
- Poorly drained, soggy soil in the rainy season causes crown rot, so plant it where water drains away.
Society Garlic questions we hear
Does society garlic smell like garlic?+
Only when the leaves are cut, crushed or bruised, which releases a garlic-like odor. Untouched plants and flowers are mild. Plant it where you will not brush against it at a doorway or narrow path, and wear gloves if you are trimming.
Is society garlic deer resistant and drought tolerant?+
Yes to both. The odor usually keeps deer away, and once established it handles dry-season spells on rain and your assigned watering days. Wet, poorly drained soil is what troubles it, so plant it high and where water drains.
How far apart should I plant society garlic?+
Plant 12 to 18 inches apart for a continuous border, or 18 to 24 inches for a looser look. It fills in over a season or two, and a drift of five or more looks better than a single plant.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Society Garlic
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.