Tulbaghia 'Savanna Lightning'
Best low-maintenance perennial for gardeners seeking natural pest protection.
Enhance your garden with Tulbaghia 'Savanna Lightning', a clumping evergreen perennial known for its pest-deterring qualities and attractive blooms. This plant features bright, shiny green foliage that emits a subtle garlic-like scent when disturbed, effectively repelling deer, cats, dogs, snails, and slugs. From spring into fall, it produces crisp white flowers, adding a touch of elegance to borders and edgings. Thriving in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained loamy soil, it offers low maintenance and year-round interest, making it a practical and beautiful addition to any landscape.
$21.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
760
/ 3029
#760 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-21%
Below average
SKU
27580
Who it's for
- Landscape designers needing consistent, long-season floral color
- Gardeners seeking high-impact, year-round foliage color
- Busy homeowners wanting low-maintenance, pest-resistant landscaping
Who should skip it
- Cold-climate residents living in zones colder than seven
- Homeowners sensitive to strong, lingering culinary scents
- Minimalist gardeners avoiding plants that require frequent division
Performance breakdown
Pest Deterrence
Garlic-scented foliage effectively keeps deer and common garden pests at bay.
Maintenance Ease
A low-effort perennial that thrives with minimal intervention once established.
Bloom Longevity
Crisp white flowers provide consistent visual interest from spring through fall.
Landscape Versatility
Compact clumping habit fits perfectly into borders, edgings, or container gardens.
Year-round Appeal
Evergreen foliage ensures your garden retains structure even during dormant months.
Climate Adaptability
Reliable performance across zones 7 through 11 in well-drained soil.
Key Specs
SKU
27580
Genus
Tulbaghia
Species
vilacea
Item Form
1-Quart
Mature Height
3 Feet
Mature Width
2 Feet
Hardiness Zones
7 - 11
Shipping Restrictions
GU, HI, PR, VI
Features
- Natural pest control with garlic-like foliage
- Attractive pure white flowers bloom spring to fall
- Compact, clumping habit for neat borders
- Evergreen foliage provides year-round interest
- Deters deer, cats, dogs, snails, and slugs
- Tolerates full sun and partial shade
- Low maintenance plant
- Fragrant foliage when disturbed
What customers say
Customers are highly impressed by the unique aesthetic of Tulbaghia 'Savanna Lightning'. The variegated foliage provides a striking visual element that elevates garden design, often exceeding expectations for visual impact. Reviewers frequently praise the quality of the plants upon arrival, noting they were healthy and established quickly. Reliability is a strong point; the plant performs well even in challenging conditions, offering consistent growth and flowering. This variety offers excellent value for gardeners seeking unusual, low maintenance color and texture.
Know before you buy
The foliage contains sulfur compounds that release a subtle garlic-like scent when brushed against or disturbed. This natural aroma acts as a deterrent for deer, cats, dogs, snails, and slugs, helping to protect your garden beds.
Yes, this is an evergreen perennial. It will maintain its foliage year-round in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 11, providing consistent structure and color even during the off-season.
It thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires moist, well-drained, loamy soil. Ensuring the soil does not stay waterlogged is key to keeping the plant healthy.
Since this plant reaches a mature width of 2 feet, you should space them approximately 2 feet apart on center. This allows the clumping habit to fill in neatly without overcrowding.
No, it is a low-maintenance perennial. Once established, it requires only moderate watering and minimal care to maintain its tidy, clumping appearance.
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Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$22