Garlic Allium sativum
Garlic (Allium sativum) is an annual vegetable in the Amaryllidaceae family. It grows 40–70 cm (16–28 in) tall and 10–20 cm (4–8 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -15 °C (5 °F). Space plants about 12 cm (5 in) apart.
Plan Garlic in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Garlic at a glance
| Type | Annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| Family | Amaryllidaceae |
| Mature height | 40–70 cm (16–28 in) |
| Mature spread | 10–20 cm (4–8 in) |
| Spacing | 12 cm (5 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -15 °C (5 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 7) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | about 17–21 weeks after planting, for 1–3 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 150 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: bulbs, scapes, leaves |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇵🇱 Poland |
Is Garlic toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: bulbs, leaves
Garlic is toxic to cats and dogs and can damage red blood cells.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Garlic
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Legumes (pea family): Onions, garlic and leeks are said to stunt beans and peas (allium root exudates may reduce nodulation). Traditional companion-planting advice; controlled trials are few, so treat it as a soft preference. Evidence D
- caution With Legumes (pea family): Beans and peas are traditionally kept away from onions, garlic and leeks. Traditional companion-planting advice; controlled trials are few, so treat it as a soft preference. Evidence D
Shared pests and diseases
- White rot: Allium white rot survives in soil for 15+ years; never move infected soil. Evidence B
Questions about Garlic
- How far apart should I plant Garlic?
- About 12 cm (5 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 10–20 cm (4–8 in).
- Does Garlic need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Garlic need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Garlic?
- It tolerates about -15 °C (5 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 7. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Garlic flower?
- About 17–21 weeks after planting, for 1–3 weeks.
- Is Garlic poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Garlic is toxic to cats and dogs and can damage red blood cells.
- What grows well with Garlic?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Garlic. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Autumn-planted; harvest the following summer.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Onion Allium cepa
- Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus
- Leek Allium ampeloprasum (Porrum group)
- Chives Allium schoenoprasum
- Agapanthus Agapanthus praecox
- Ornamental allium Allium giganteum
- Shallot Allium cepa var. aggregatum
- Welsh onion (scallion) Allium fistulosum