Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

perennial0.3×0.3 mzone 5–11light shade🍎 Edible

Profile

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Habit: perennial
Height: 0.3 m
Spread: 0.3 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 10 years
First yield: after 2 years
Hardiness: zone 5–11
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
Soil moisture: semi-dry – moist
pH: 5.3 – 8.6

nectar sourcepollen source

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering
Leaf harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible7 of 10

Medicinal3 of 10

Other uses3 of 10

Growing

Plant chives in a sunny to partly shaded site in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Keep the soil evenly moist; avoid waterlogging. Avoid weed competition and mulch to regulate moisture. Propagation is by division of the clumps in spring or autumn and by sowing. Regular cutting promotes fresh growth and prevents excessive flowering.

⚠️ Hazards

Toxicity: slightly toxic

This is no substitute for expert identification. When in doubt, do not eat it.

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