Plant guide
Garlic
Allium sativum
Garlic is toxic to cats and can damage red blood cells. Keep bulbs, leaves and food containing garlic away from your cat. Suspected ingestion needs prompt veterinary advice.
What this guide covers: Allium sativum only. Check the botanical name; a photograph alone cannot establish identity.
Photo:
Photo details
Allium sativum — flowering garlic
By Neil Cummings
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Plant shopping
Explore this plant
Photo:
Photo details
Allium sativum — flowering garlic
By Neil Cummings
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Music garlic planting bulbs
View on Amazon — Music garlic planting bulbs; paid link; opens in a new tabPaid link · Opens in a new tab
Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
Explore non-toxic plants →A little paw-note: We may earn a commission when you buy through these links. This helps us keep building and helps Nico & Larry sustain their lavish kitty lifestyle.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Look for Allium sativum and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Allium sativum
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
Find the right spot
How to grow this plant
Allium sativum only. Check the botanical name; a photograph alone cannot establish identity.
- Light
- Sunny position
Full sun.
- Watering
Use good drainage and reduce watering as harvest approaches.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Planting dates depend on climate; give cloves time to establish before ground freezes.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- Loose, fertile, well-drained soil.
- Through the year
- Mulch to limit weeds. Harvest when about half the foliage browns, then cure bulbs in a dry, shaded place.
Growing-guide sources
- Allium sativum ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Allium sativum only. Check the botanical name; a photograph alone cannot establish identity.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-16. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.