Garlic – is it an herb, a spice, a root vegetable, or even a flower? Grow it and you’ll get to decide!
By Lynn Janaskie
One of my favorite plants to grow is hardneck garlic. Garlic has been called an herb, a spice, and a root vegetable. The herb part of it is the leaves, while the spices come from the roots, bark, and seeds.
But garlic also has characteristics of being a root vegetable, as it is more commonly known, because it has a bulb, a tall stem, and long leaves.
Personally, I also consider it a flower, too, which only the hardneck type of garlic produces. These flowers are actually called scapes, and they grow from the base of the garlic bulb. They grow into tall green stalks before the bulb fully matures.
Hardneck garlic is generally known for its stiff necks and scapes. When the scapes begin growing, it moves energy to the reproduction of the garlic instead of the bulb growth. You can cut the scapes before they flower to let the bulb begin to grow. Scapes are also edible if they are cut before they flower.
I enjoy the flowers from the hardneck garlic. I cut the tall stem and let it and the flower dry out. It is fun to use in flower arrangements, and there is no odor from it. Hardneck garlic is a very hardy cold-weather plant, but its scapes usually appear in the spring. The hardneck garlic I have growing in our yard comes from my father-in-law’s yard here in Hot Springs. It is easy to grow and fun to watch.
Lynn Janaskie volunteers with Garland County Master Gardeners of the UofA Div. of Agriculture, Cooperative Ext. Service. Master Gardeners pool skills and resources to improve home horticulture, stimulate interest in plants and gardening, and encourage beautification.
