False Garlic Plant Care
Nothoscordum borbonicum Kunth
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Nothoscordum × borbonicum, also known as honeybells, fragrant false garlic and onion weed, is a bulbous perennial. It has become naturalized as a nearly cosmopolitan weed.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–85°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for False Garlic?
Water False Garlic every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–85°F (10–29°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the False Garlic?
False Garlic (Nothoscordum borbonicum) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Nothoscordum genus. False Garlic is also known as Wild Onion, Onion Weed.
False Garlic displays a grassy, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. False Garlic produces small white or pink star-shaped flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a False Garlic?
Nothoscordum borbonicum requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the False Garlic Need?
False Garlic thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the False Garlic Prefer?
Nothoscordum borbonicum grows best at temperatures of 50–85°F. False Garlic prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–85°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a False Garlic?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for False Garlic to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a False Garlic?
Feed False Garlic every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a False Garlic?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a False Garlic?
False Garlic can be propagated through division of offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to wild onion plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the False Garlic Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list False Garlic, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the False Garlic?
False Garlic is susceptible to aphids, thrips, onion flies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the False Garlic Need?
False Garlic grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow False Garlic as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
False Garlic is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Nothoscordum genus — compare its care with other Nothoscordum species on PlantoScan.
Nothoscordum is part of the Amaryllidaceae plant family — browse all Amaryllidaceae genera and species.
False Garlic thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Nothoscordum borbonicum Kunth, family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Enum. Pl. 4: 462 (1843)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list False Garlic, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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