Plant Details

Allium sativum

Garlic

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Common names

42 names · 36 languages
EnglishYour language
  • cultivated garlic[1]
  • Garlic[1]
Other languages (35)
Dutch
  • Knoflook
French
Arabic
  • ثوم مزروع[1]
Bunun
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Chontal
Czech
  • česnek kuchyňský[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • küüslauk[1]
Finnish
  • kynsilaukka[1]
  • valkosipuli[1]
German
Hebrew
  • שום תרבותי[1]
Hungarian
Indonesian
  • Bawang Putih[1]
Italian
Japanese
  • ニンニク[1]
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Valgomasis česnakas[1]
Mazahua
Mvskoke
  • tafvmpe-vhake[1]
Nyduka
Polish
  • Czosnek pospolity[1]
  • Czosnek zwyczajny[1]
Portuguese
Romani
Russian
  • Лук чеснок[1]
Sepedi
Sinhala
  • සුදු ළූණු[1]
Slovak
  • cesnak kuchynský[1]
Spanish
Swedish
Tagalog
Thai
  • กระเทียม[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Часник городній[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Allium sativum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Garlic — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Ajo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • ajus — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • axoxi — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Bawang Putih — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • cultivated garlic — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Ail — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Ail commun — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Ail cultivé — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Alho — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • česnek kuchyňský — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • küüslauk — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Лук чеснок — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Knoblauch — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • kynsilaukka — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • ニンニク — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Valgomasis česnakas — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • vitlök — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • salu — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • සුදු ළූණු — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • 大蒜 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Aglio — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • sarımsak — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • ثوم مزروع — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Hvidløg — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • 大蒜 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • khonofolo — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • กระเทียม — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • 마늘 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Часник городній — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Fokhagyma — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • lai — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Czosnek pospolity — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Czosnek zwyczajny — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • שום תרבותי — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Syr — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • valkosipuli — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • tafvmpe-vhake — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • cesnak kuchynský — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • Bawang — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.
  • 蒜头 — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 75363; Allium sativum.

General information

Scientific name: Allium sativum
Accepted name (Kew): Allium sativum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Amaryllidaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Allium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Garlic
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.2–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Root, Seed
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Adhesive, Fungicide, Repellent

Description

Garlic - can be used both raw and cooked. It is widely used, especially in Southern European cuisines, as a flavoring in various dishes, both raw and cooked. Garlic is a flavorful and nutritious addition to food, but due to its strong taste, it is mainly used in small quantities in salads and hot dishes. The bulbs can reach a diameter of up to 6 cm. The leaves of garlic can be eaten raw or cooked. They are chopped and added to salads, and they are generally milder in flavor than the bulbs. In China, garlic is often grown for its leaves, which can even be harvested in mild winters in the middle of winter. The flowering stems are used as seasoning and can sometimes be found in Chinese stores. Sprouted garlic seeds can be added to salads.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 31/08

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1169904; name ID 294888; Allium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 257210; name ID 296499; Allium sativum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Allium sativum

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1947793, ID 6697C: Allium sativum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Allium sativum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .