What is a society garlic plant?

A society garlic plant is an ornamental plant that comes from South Africa. Its leaves smell like garlic. It is part of the lily family, as are onions and garlic, but it belongs to the Tulbaghia genus.

Each society garlic plant has five or six leaves that are 1 foot long and 1/4-inch wide. The plant is often set against plants such as creeping thyme and lavender cotton for the contrasting visual effect. Society garlic grows only in U.S. Department of Agriculture Zone 9. It can be grown year-round in the Southern region of the United States and needs sandy soil and full sun to thrive.