Garlic is more than just a staple ingredient in the kitchen; it’s a world of flavors waiting to be explored. While you might be familiar with the standard white garlic found in most supermarkets, there’s a rich tapestry of garlic varieties that grow well throughout the United States. Each type of garlic brings its own special qualities, from subtle nuances to bold flavors, to other interesting characteristics. In this guide, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of garlic, uncovering the distinct characteristics of different varieties and offering insights on how to select the best one for your gardening and culinary needs.

To start off there are two different umbrellas of garlic varieties: hardneck and softneck. They have very different characteristics that can be broken down in the chart below. If you need help figuring out what growing zone you are in, use our zone finder!

Chart Note: Softneck garlic can be grown in cooler zones but may not perform as well.

	Hardneck	Softneck
	Zones 2-8	Zones 9 & up
	Bold & Spicy	Mild & Buttery
	Larger	Smaller
	Less cloves Single row	More cloves Multiple rows
	Yes	No
	Hard & rigid	Soft 7 braidable
	4-6 months	6-12 months

Hardneck:

Elephant Garlic

Elephant garlic can grow as large as a soft ball for which it is popular. Its individual cloves are much larger then a typical garlic clove which is its most distinctive feature. It flavor is sweet and mild, closer to that of a leek or scallion. There generally are fewer but larger cloves within each bulb. The scapes ( stalks) are edible, and it does produce a flower. It does well in northern regions of the country, in fact better then some true garlic varieties. Popular choice for those that seek a milder garlic flavor.

Porcelain Musik Garlic

Porcelain Garlic tends to have a strong, robust flavor with a spicy and pungent taste. They typically produce larger bulbs then other varieties with an average clove count of 3-4. Hardneck garlic produces a stiff neck (scape) and flowerhead (umbel) with bulbils at the top. Well-suited for colder climates and known for its ability to withstand winter cold, making it a popular choice for northern gardens.

Porcelain Northern Hardy Garlic

Porcelain Northern Extra Hardy Garlic tends to have a strong, robust flavor with a spicy and pungent taste. They typically produce larger bulbs then other varieties with an average clove count of 3-4. Hardneck garlic produces a stiff neck (scape) and flowerhead (umbel) with bulbils at the top. Well-suited for colder climates and known for its ability to withstand winter cold, making it a popular choice for northern gardens.

Purple Creole Garlic

Creole garlic is known for its distinctive flavor, which often described as spicy, robust, and pungent. The bulbs are generally smaller than those of other varieties, having a tight skin colored with some purple. They are prized for their strong flavor and aroma. It is sometimes referred to as "Creole Red" due its bulb coloring.

Purple Strip Chesnok Red Garlic

Standard purple stripe garlic is well-suited for colder climates and known for its ability to withstand winter cold, making it a popular choice for northern gardens.

Rocambole German Red Garlic

Rocambole garlic is prized for its robust and full-bodied flavor, described as spicy, pungent, and earthty delivering a more complex and nuanced taste. Typical bulb consists of 6-7 cloves of medium size. The curly scape ( flower stalk) can be used in cooking. Rocambole garlic is less cold hardy then porcelain garlic so better in gardens with milder winters. It is however a popular choice due to its flavor and for those who enjoy exploring different garlic varieties. Bulb size averages between 1" - 1.5" in diameter, approximately 4 oz. for 3 bulbs.

Rocambole Spanish Roja Garlic

Rocambole garlic is prized for its robust and full-bodied flavor, often described as spicy, pungent, and earthty delivering a more complex and nuanced taste. Typical bulb consists of 6-7 cloves of medium size. The curly scape ( flower stalk) can be used in cooking. Rocambole garlic is less cold hardy then porcelain garlic so better in gardens with milder winters. It is a popular choice due to its flavor and for those who enjoy exploring different garlic varieties.

Softneck:

Artichoke Sicilian Garlic

Artichoke cloves vary in size within the same bulb - typically 6-7. As it's mild in flavor, being less pungent and spicy, it is a good choice for those preferring a milder garlic in their dish. It peels easily and stores well. This garlic variety is adaptable to various climates and is cultivated around the world. It is a popular choice for commercial use as well as home cooks. A staple in many kitchens.

Asiatic Spring Violet Garlic

Asiatic garlic bulbs tend to be smaller and may have more cloves per bulb then other varieties. The taste is milder and less spicy, with a sweeter or nutty undertone. It is easy to peel, and a preferred choice for storing for an extended time. Can easily be grown in colder and warner climates, particularly in climates where Hardneck varieties do not grow as well.

Silverskin Inchelium Red Garlic

Rocambole garlic is prized for its robust and full-bodied flavor, often described as spicy, pungent, and earthty delivering a more complex and nuanced taste. Typical bulb consists of 6-7 cloves of medium size. The curly scape ( flower stalk) can be used in cooking. Rocambole garlic is less cold hardy then porcelain garlic so better in gardens with milder winters. It is a popular choice due to its flavor and for those who enjoy exploring different garlic varieties.

Silverskin Italian Late Garlic

Rocambole garlic is prized for its robust and full-bodied flavor, often described as spicy, pungent, and earthty delivering a more complex and nuanced taste. Typical bulb consists of 6-7 cloves of medium size. The curly scape ( flower stalk) can be used in cooking. Rocambole garlic is less cold hardy then porcelain garlic so better in gardens with milder winters. It is a popular choice due to its flavor and for those who enjoy exploring different garlic varieties.

Silverskin Silver Rose Garlic

Silver skin garlic typically produces bulbs with many cloves in varying sizes within the same bulb. Its flavor is more mild then some other garlic varieties, as its slightly sweet and less spicy than hardneck varieties. It has many culinary uses and easily peeled. It has a long shelf life and stores well. It is adaptable to many gardens and climates throughout the world making it a choice for commercial growers. It is considered a staple choice.

Growing garlic can be fun and can contain lots of exploration! From hardneck to softneck varieties you can figure out what suits your soil, taste buds, and your garlic aesthetic purposes.