Garlic Vine: How to grow and care for it?

If you want to beautify your garden or add to its diversity, you can choose to grow beautiful ornamental flowering vines called the Garlic Vine. Possessing powerful medicinal values, it is pretty easy to grow and maintain. Also known as the false garlic plant, it serves as an excellent way of livening up your garden. So, read on to find more about the benefits and uses of Garlic Vine as well as how to grow and care for it in your home garden.

What is Garlic Vine?

A species of tropical liana in the Bignoniaceae family is called Mansoa alliacea, also known as the Garlic Vine. It originated in Northern South America and has since migrated to Brazil and Central America. 

It is referred to as ajo sacha, a Spanish-Quechua word that means “forest garlic” or “wild garlic,” among the mestizos of the Amazon jungle. The leaves of the Garlic Vine smell like garlic when crushed, hence the name. However, if the plant is left unattended, it doesn’t smell.

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See also: Pothos Plant: Know how to grow and care

Garlic Vine: Key facts

Garlic Vine: Physical features

The opposing leaves of this lovely blooming Garlic Vine are separated into two ovate leaflets. It has multiple woody vines from the base that are only 2-3 m tall and have up to 15 cm long, brilliant green leaves that resemble shrubs. Flowers are funnel-shaped, bloom twice a year, start off purple with a white throat, and as they age, they turn a lighter shade of lavender. eventually becoming nearly white. On the Garlic Vine, three distinct bloom colours may be observed at once.

False Garlic Vine flowers

The vibrant and gorgeous flowers of Garlic Vine are one of the major reasons behind the plant’s immense value as an addition to your garden. The stunning false garlic flowers are shaped like a trumpet, like bignonia and glow vine. With their funnel-like shape, these flowers grow in clusters in bright shades of lavender before fading to white and pale pink. These flowers bloom two times a year, in autumn and in spring, when growing in warm climates.

Garlic Vine: How to grow?

Garlic Vine grows effectively from cuttings in terms of garlic vine propagation. Remove the lowest leaves from a semi-hardwood cutting with at least three nodes before planting it in a moist combination of sand and compost. The process of rooting is now underway. Plant the Garlic Vine in a garden area that receives either full or partial sun when you first start growing it. 

• You have a variety of alternatives for planting and using Garlic Vines if you’re interested in cultivating them. The vine can be grown inside, outside, or in pots in a garden. 
• Growing Garlic Vine on a chain link fence is one of the best uses for this plant. If you utilise a wooden framework, exercise caution since the vine might become heavy and woody. 
• Garlic Vine may be cultivated in pots, and once the flowers fade, it has to be pruned. 

Garlic Vine: Care tips

Growing the plant in well-drained soil makes taking care of the Garlic Vine the simplest. With this plant, don’t skimp on the water. Compost may be used as mulch at the base to keep the roots cool and wet. In almost any type of soil, from full sun to partial shade, Garlic Vines may flourish. It thrives on soils with good drainage and moderate watering. 

Watering needs to be thorough and consistent. It may need watering twice a day in the hot, dry season. After each flowering season, Garlic Vine has to be pruned. After a few days of cutting, new buds will start to grow. In general, fertiliser is not necessary for Garlic Vine growth because it is already excessive. 

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Garlic Vine: Medicinal benefits

There are plenty of medicinal benefits of Garlic Vine. These include:

• To treat illness or inflammation, fresh leaves of Garlic Vines are typically used to prepare an infusion or tea.
• False garlic’s bark or roots are typically used in decoctions or tinctures that help cure diseases and inflammation or act as a laxative or an antispasmodic.
• The leaves of Garlic Vines can also be dissolved in a bath to treat fever, weariness, aches, and pains.
• To relieve headaches, crushed leaves of Garlic Vines are applied to the forehead.
• Traditionally, leaves were applied to the body to ward off insects and snakes. 
• As an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, and antipyretic, Garlic Vine is also utilised in herbal medicine systems.

Garlic Vine: Uses

Garlic Vine produces bell-shaped and fragrant lavender blossoms, which make it very rewarding to grow. It is one of the most beautiful and popular ornamental plants for your home garden. Garlic Vines are believed to remove bad luck from a house in plant lore.

Garlic Vine toxicity: Can you eat the Garlic Vine?

Garlic Vine is not at all toxic to either humans or pets. In fact, both leaves and flowers of this plant are edible. Moreover, as mentioned above, it is also used in numerous medicinal remedies. It is also a popular ingredient in cooking, particularly due to its garlicky flavour. 

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