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Allium schoenoprasum

Phonetic Spelling
AL-ee-um sho-en-oh-PRAY-sum
Description

Chives are a bulbous perennial herb used as an ornamental or as a culinary herb. It has an edible flower and leaves that are used for flavoring with eggs, soups, salads, butter, cheese, dips, spreads, etc.  Harvest the leaves by clipping them off at the base so as to maintain the attractiveness of the clumps. Clumps can be divided easily in the spring or fall and they will easily self-seed in the garden.

Plant Chives in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. They work well when planted in mass along borders, in rock or vegetable gardens or they can be potted up and grown on a patio or in a sunny window indoors.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.  Root rot may occur in poorly drained soil.

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for the Plant Identification and Use courses offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

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Tags:
#bulb#small spaces#edible plant#fragrant leaves#interiorscape#vegetable garden#children's garden#herbaceous perennial#playground plant#rock garden#border planting#vegetable#edible garden#cool season vegetable#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#patio#herb garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bulb#small spaces#edible plant#fragrant leaves#interiorscape#vegetable garden#children's garden#herbaceous perennial#playground plant#rock garden#border planting#vegetable#edible garden#cool season vegetable#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#patio#herb garden
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Allium
    Species:
    schoenoprasum
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Leaves popular in many culinary dishes, flowers used to garnish soups and salads
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Balkans, Siberia, Asia Minor
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract pollinators
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Edible fruit
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Tolerant of deer, drought and Black Walnut
    Edibility:
    Flowers have a mildly bitter flavor and like young leaves can be eaten in small quantities raw in salads and sandwiches or cooked in tea and soups. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 5 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Cool Season Vegetable
    Edible
    Herb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Vegetable
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    3-valved capsule opens in summer to disperse many seeds
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Clusters of 1/2-3/4 inch star-shaped pale purple flowers with 6 petals bloom April-May on hollow tubular scapes. Fragrant and edible.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Acicular
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Hollow, fragrant, upright grass-like leaves forming clumps
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Hollow, tubular green stems up to 20 inches tall
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Recreational Play Area
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Humidity
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses