Golden garlic
Allium moly · Amaryllidaceae
📷 H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Bulbes et feuilles peuvent endommager les globules rouges des chiens et surtout des chats ; le risque dépend de la quantité ingérée, crue ou cuite.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant golden garlic: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Golden Garlic
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Type
- Perennial bulb
- Adult height
- 30 cm
- Flowering
- April to June
- Flower color
- Golden yellow
- Hardiness
- Excellent (down to -20°C)
- Origin
- Mediterranean and South Asia
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Golden Garlic delicate bulbil that naturalizes perfectly in dry conditions. Plant bulbils in November for flowers April-May.
The common mistake
Keeping soil moist in autumn-winter: bulbils rot before even rooting, plant won't return.
The pro's trick
Sow seeds in summer (July) in dry pot: germination in autumn, flowers year N+1.
Care
Sunlight
Plant Golden Garlic in full sun for optimal flowering. It tolerates partial shade as well, but will flower less generously. A location with at least 6 hours of sun per day ensures vigorous growth.
Watering
Water moderately during spring growth, then reduce after flowering. In summer, let the soil dry between waterings. Once established, it is undemanding and tolerates drought well.
Soil
Prepare well-draining soil, preferably slightly chalky, as this bulb fears waterlogging. Poor to average soil suits it perfectly. If your soil is heavy, improve it with sand or gravel.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring when growth resumes. An annual addition of compost or well-decomposed manure is plenty to support its growth.
Pruning and maintenance
Remove spent flowers to encourage more buds to form. Let the foliage dry naturally before cutting it back, so the bulb can rebuild its reserves for the following year.
Diseases and pests
Golden Garlic is very disease-resistant. Only excessive moisture can promote bulb rot. Check soil drainage and avoid unnecessary winter watering.
Did you know?
Golden Garlic owes its scientific name 'moly' to Greek mythology: Homer described it in the Odyssey as a magical herb with golden flowers that the god Hermes gave to Ulysses to protect him from Circe's spells. Since antiquity, this plant has symbolized protection and good fortune in the garden.
Where to buy it
Plant the bulbs in autumn for spring flowering. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from September to November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- RamsonsAllium ursinum
- ChivesAllium schoenoprasum
- Sand leekAllium scorodoprasum
- Elephant garlicAllium ampeloprasum
- OnionAllium cepa
- Belladonna lilyAmaryllis belladonna
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.