Items 1 to 5 of 5 total
Items 1 to 5 of 5 total
Chives
Uses:
- Herb & Kitchen Gardens
- Raised Beds & Containers
- Rock Gardens
Features:
- Pretty Blooms
- Attracts Pollinators
- Deer & Rodent Resistant
Sunlight:
- Partial Sun to Full Sun
- At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight
Growing Zones:
- 3-9
- What is My Zone?
Chives are easy to grow and provide not only tasty foliage, but also beautiful blooms. The grass-like foliage has a mild onion flavor and can be snipped throughout the growing season. This plant blooms in late spring, sending up lavender, pink, or white globes, which are also edible. The flower puffs attract pollinators and can be used in cut-flower arrangements. Plant chives in herb gardens, rock gardens, and perennial beds as a ground cover or vertical accent. They also grow well in raised beds and containers for easy harvesting.
About Chives
Genus
Allium
Species
Schoenoprasum
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Common Names:
Wild Chives
Native To:
Balkans, Siberia, Asia Minor
Plant Type:
Edible Plants
Foliage Type:
Broadleaf Evergreen
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
4 - 8
Flower Color:
Purple/Lavender
Flower Bloom Time:
Spring, Summer
Growth Habit:
Clumping
Attracts:
Pollinators
Tolerates:
Drought, Humidity
Resists:
Deer, Diseases
Where To Plant Chives In The Garden
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are perennial herbs known for their slender, hollow stems and mild onion flavor. They emerge each spring for season-long harvests. Pollinators frequent the rounded purple blooms, boosting biodiversity wherever they’re planted. When you crave a quick garnish or infusion of mild onion flavor, this herb more than proves its worth.
Chives fit seamlessly in the herb bed but also hold their own in perennial borders or rock gardens, thanks to slender leaves and cheerful flower heads. Combine them with spring bulbs or tuck them along the edges of raised beds for textural contrast. Their blossoms brighten late spring, and the entire plant—flowers included—is edible. Indoors, small clumps can thrive on a bright windowsill or be snipped for decorative table arrangements.
Chives Care
For planting, choose a sunny or lightly shaded site with loose, well-draining soil enriched by compost. Set out starts in early spring with four to six inches between each clump. Keep moisture steady, but avoid overwatering; these tough plants need only minimal fertilizer. Occasional mulching suppresses weeds and conserves moisture without inviting disease.
Cut off faded blossoms or any yellowing leaves to encourage more tender, new growth, and snip fresh leaves as needed for cooking. Harvest by trimming individual stalks close to the base, never removing the entire clump at once. For off-season storage, dry or freeze chopped chives, maintaining some brightness of flavor. In colder climates, mulch around the roots or move them indoors for the coldest months, ensuring another vigorous start in spring.
Learn More About Chives
