The Main Plant entry for Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

This database entry exists to show plant data and photos that apply generically to all Chives.

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	Purple
Flower Time:	Late spring or early summer Summer
Underground structures:	Bulb
Uses:	Culinary Herb
Eating Methods:	Raw Cooked
Dynamic Accumulator:	K (Potassium) Ca (Calcium) Na (Sodium)
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees
Resistances:	Deer Resistant
Propagation: Seeds:	Self fertile Days to germinate: 7-14 days Depth to plant seed: 1/4 inch Sow in situ Other info: Self seeds. Thin seedlings when 1-2 inches tall.
Propagation: Other methods:	Division Bulbs
Pollinators:	Self Moths and Butterflies Flies Bees Various insects
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots

Common names

Chives

Matching plants under this entry

Allium schoenoprasum
Allium schoenoprasum var. sibiricum

Photo Gallery

Uploaded by Fleur569

Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C.
Date: 2009-06-08
Long lasting blossoms, as tasty as their stems.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 2017-05-16
Tasty in the kitchen, pretty in the garden

Uploaded by cliftoncat

Uploaded by Fleur569

Location: My Garden, Arvada, Colorado
Date: May

Uploaded by tabby

Uploaded by cliftoncat

Uploaded by sviatlana

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-05-05
w/ wild blue phlox

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: My garden, Northumberland
Date: 2009-06-04
With Phalaris arundinacea

Uploaded by kniphofia

Location: My garden, Willow Valley Communities Lakes Campus, Willow Street, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2020-06-01

Uploaded by csandt

Location: Hortus Camera Lapidea
Date: 2013-06-30

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Hortus Camera Lapidea
Date: 2008-05-11

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Van Buren, MO
Date: 2018-04-14
Volunteers from seed.

Uploaded by DraDiana

Location: in my garden
Date: 2017-06-19
#Pollination #Bee

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Hortus Camera Lapidea
Date: 2008-05-27

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Hortus Camera Lapidea
Date: 2011-06-15

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2011-05-22

Uploaded by Zencat

Location: Millinocket, Maine
Date: 2022-06-10

Uploaded by TheMainer

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2009-05-17

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2015-04-25

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2022-06-09
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), flowers

Uploaded by adknative

Location: Coastal WA 9A
Date: 2023-05-14

Uploaded by Aerith

Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2022-03-17

Uploaded by janinilulu

Location: Photo by Carol Bacskai; zone 5b, Yorkville, IL
Date: 2021-05-18

Uploaded by Artsee1

Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2014-06-01
...and Oregano

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada - near Lake Ontario, zone 6a
Date: 2013-06-12

Uploaded by tinpins

Uploaded by DraDiana

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2020-06-06

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Millinocket, Maine
Date: 2023-06-21
Chives in full bloom next to Felix Crousse Peony

Uploaded by TheMainer

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-05-18

Uploaded by chelle

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-04-23

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Long Island, NY
Date: 2013-05-29

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Uploaded by DianeSeeds

Uploaded by lauribob

Location: North Carolina USA
Date: 2019-04-21
Chives - delicious when snipped and sometimes make it in for supp

Uploaded by PeggyC

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 21, 2014
The Vegetable Garden

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2014-04-20
Budding out

Uploaded by Bonehead

Uploaded by molanic

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

$Location: Cedarhome, Washington Date: 2010-05-24 After 'the flop' - cut back to about 2\" and it will rejuvenate$

Uploaded by Bonehead

Uploaded by vic

Uploaded by SL_gardener

Uploaded by MaryDurtschi

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-05-03

Uploaded by chelle

Location: central Illinois
Date: 5-5-12
w/ 3 BF

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-06-09

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by lauribob

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by jooshewa

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2008-05-17

Uploaded by Zencat

Location: New Hampshire
Date: June
credit: Captain-tucker

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by Natalie

Uploaded by GaNinFl

Uploaded by clintbrown

Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 9/1/19
These have been growing in this same little pot for 8 years. I br

Uploaded by cwhitt

Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 9/1/19

Uploaded by cwhitt

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Twisp
Date: Spring
Just beginning to bloom

Uploaded by lauribob

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-12-10

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: 2012-07-26

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: Right side of garage door.
Date: 2014-05-27

Uploaded by pirl

Location: Right side of garage door.
Date: 2014-05-28

Uploaded by pirl

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Moraine Lake, Canada | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-03

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by admin

Date: 2014-02-18
Photo courtesy of: MomentsForZen

Uploaded by admin

Location: Long Island, NY
Date: 2013-04-26

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Date: 2021-03-22
New greenery in early spring from an established plant in a garde

Uploaded by jhugart

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-04-24

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 11-15-13
fall

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-06-30

Uploaded by nativeplantlover

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2006-07-26

Uploaded by Joy

Location: central Illinois
Date: 5-11-13

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2013-04-10

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by MrGrimGarden

Uploaded by Huertayjardineria

Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.

Uploaded by Lalambchop1

Uploaded by vic

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-05-10

Uploaded by jmorth

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi

Uploaded by Joy

Location: Cascade of Time Garden, Banff, Canada | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-01

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Forgetmenot Ridge, Kananaskis P.P., Alberta; ~2100m elevation.
Date: 2010-08-23

Uploaded by growitall

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2014-03-23
These were labeled "Onion Chives" because of the onion taste. Am

Uploaded by beckygardener

Location: Copenhagen Botanical Garden, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-20

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Botanical Garden MÃ¼nchen-Nymphenburg, Munich, Germany.
Date: May

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-03-01

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by vic

Location: Fairfax, VA | July, 2022
Date: 2022-07-22

Uploaded by sedumzz

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Calif_Sue (Sebastopol, CA - Zone 9a) on Jun 26, 2013 1:34 PM concerning plant:

A lovely herb that is also a valuable source of color in the flower bed or in a potted combination. It blooms from early to late summer. If you are growing them for food rather than for decoration, snip the flowers before they bloom as they will grow thicker if they’re picked often.

Reply to this comment
Posted by NEILMUIR1 (London\Kent Border) on Feb 17, 2014 5:52 AM concerning plant:

An essential culinary herb. Used in egg dishes and with potatoes and salads. Used extensively in Europe for its mild onion flavour. It also dries exceptionally well, with little loss of flavour, for culinary use! Very easy to grow, but must be used and cut a lot for thick, luscious, full-flavoured growth.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Apr 23, 2012 7:18 AM concerning plant:

Honey bees get nectar and pollen from this plant. One of their favorites for both nectar and pollen.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 30, 2013 5:07 PM concerning plant:

Everyone should grow Chives and Garlic Chives. I find that chives work well in salads or as garnish. They also can be substituted for onions. It is so easy to go out into the garden and just snip some fresh chives when needed. I grow my chives in pots.

Reply to this comment
Posted by bxncbx (NYC - Zone 7a) on Jan 31, 2019 12:34 PM concerning plant:

I've grown chives in a shallow fabric pot for years now. This plant is indestructible! It has survived seasons of drought, monsoon-like rains and polar-vortex winters with no extra protection. The flowers are beloved by pollinators and both the leaves and flowers have a mild onion flavor. I typically snip the leaves for eating only once or twice a year. Despite this, my plant is always lush and beautiful. Every garden should have at least one plant, as it is not one you will ever have to worry over.

Reply to this comment
Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Jul 26, 2012 5:28 AM concerning plant:

A perennial must for any herb garden, easy to grow, so many uses, and flowers too. The flowers are edible. Pick and pull apart at peak bloom or just before . They add a bright accent to a salad and just a hint of flavor too.

Reply to this comment
Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Dec 6, 2011 1:03 AM concerning plant:

Uses include: savory garnish adding zest to salads; great addition to scrambled eggs (my favorite), can be made into frozen chive cubes, also, as a garden ornamental.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 1, 2014 6:29 PM concerning plant:

Allium schoenoprasum reportedly serves as a beneficial plant in the garden by helping to repel aphids, Japanese beetles, and rabbits.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
Catmint20906	On May 12, 2015	Bloomed
p1mkw	On January 31, 2015	Seeds sown
GaNinFl	On September 12, 2015	Maintenance performed Cleaned up and removed some of the old growth.
joannmorford	On June 8, 2017	Transplanted
MrsBinWY	On February 5, 2018	Seeds germinated Gave them to Susie H. for Plant Sale.
MrsBinWY	On February 2, 2018	Seeds sown germination test for Seed Library of previous year's seeds; 100 seeds in milk jug at warm room temp
thepurplebug	On June 11, 2019	Seeds germinated
thepurplebug	On June 3, 2019	Seeds sown Seeds planted in a container in front of the house.
antsinmypants	On May 20, 2021	Transplanted Into Garden one
antsinmypants	On May 15, 2021	Obtained plant 2021 Chicagoland Annual Plant Swap
Mielikki	On March 23, 2024	Harvested Eventually ate.
Mielikki	On March 28, 2022	Transplanted
Mielikki	On November 9, 2021	Obtained plant
Retro67	On November 30, 2023	Seeds germinated

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Composition by RuuddeBlock	Apr 28, 2018 12:54 PM	3

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