There are two sub-species of Garlic (allium sativum): The hard-necked garlics were the original garlics and the soft-necked ones were developed or cultivated over the centuries by growers from the original hard-necks through a process of selection.

Allium Sativum Ophioscorodon (Hard-necked garlics) (Ophios for short)
The name possibly originates from the Greek “ophis” meaning “snake”

Hardneck garlics have a “scape” - stalk - which coils from the top. On the top of this scape grow a number of bubils which are often thought to be garlic flowers.
Hardneck garlics have fewer, larger cloves then the softnecks. They also have less of an outer bulb wrapper, sometimes none at all. This makes them more sensitive and reduces their shelf life.

The latest research (2003) shows that probably 6 fairly distinct varieties of hardneck garlic have evolved.
These are called Asiatic, Creole, Purple Stripe, Marbled Purple Stripe, Porcelain and Rocambole.

• Rocambole garlic usually has up to a dozen cloves of a tan or browny colour.
• Porcelain garlic has a satiny white wrapper and the fewest cloves in a bulb, perhaps as few as four very large cloves. Porcelain garlic is often mistaken for elephant garlic.
• Purple stripe garlic is highly distinctive because of its colouring, with bright purple markings.

Allium Sativum Sativum (Soft-necked garlics) Â

These soft-necked garlics are:Â

• large
• an abundance of clovesstore well
• have a wide range of flavors
• white papery skin
• most commonly found
• almost all supermarket garlic is a softneck variety, as it garlic is easier to grow and plant mechanically
• the flexible stalk also allows softneck garlic to be plaited into braids

There are two main types of softneck garlic: silverskin and artichoke.

• Silverskin garlic is most common. It is easier to grow and keeps longer.
• Artichoke garlic has fewer, larger cloves and a milder flavour. The artichoke garlic bulb wrappers are coarser, often with purple blotches.

Click the link for information on growing garlic