Wild Chives Allium schoenoprasum

Chives are a bulbous perennial used as ornamental or culinary herbs. Chives have edible flowers and leaves used for flavoring with eggs, soups, salads, butter, cheese, dips and spreads. Chives are from the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) and native to a broad range of the temperate northern hemisphere including northern United States, Canada, northern Europe, Mongolia, Japan and almost all other northern hemispheric countries. The species name is derived from the Greek words "schoinos" meaning sedge or rush and "prason" meaning leek in reference to rush-like leeks.

Plant chives in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Seeds can be started indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost date or directly sown in full sun after the last frost date. Harvest can begin when plants are six inches high by clipping leaves off at the base to maintain the attractiveness of the clumps. Chives will self-seed if not dead-headed and grow in clumps which can be divided in the spring or fall.

While prized for their edible qualities, their clusters of one-inch purple flowers rising up to 18 inches above ground have value as an ornamental flower.   One cultivar, pink perfection, has the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit. Chives have a high nectar volume and are thus well suited as pollinator plants. 

Chives can be grown in small spaces and also work well when planted in mass along borders in rock or vegetable gardens.  They can also 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.  Chives are deer and drought resistant.

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

More information on Allium.