Allium tuberosum

Plant Family

Liliaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Allium tuberosum

Photo by: FELDER RUSHING

Plant Common Name

Chinese Chives

General Description

Chinese chives, a bulbous perennial, are grown both for their umbels of star-shaped white flowers and their edible foliage. The flowers have a fragrance like violets and bloom from late summer to autumn. The flower stalks emerge from a basal clump of upright, grayish green, grassy leaves. Alliums belong to the onion family and thus all have the familiar pungent fragrance when their leaves or stems are crushed. This ornamental onion is native to Southeast Asia, where it grows in full sun and well-draining, often sandy soil.

In the fall, plant this bulb two inches (5 centimeters) deep in well-drained soil. Rot can result if planted in wet soil. Once established, it will tolerate some drought. Reduce watering when the foliage starts to fade. Chinese chives are vigorous growers; lift and divide the clumps when they become crowded or flower production starts to dwindle. The garlic-flavored foliage can be snipped to enjoy in cooked dishes or raw in salads throughout the growing season. Grow Chinese chives in groups in ornamental herb and vegetable gardens, mixed borders, containers, and rock gardens. Thanks to their pleasant scent, Chinese chives make excellent cut flowers and are also long-lasting when dried.

Characteristics

• Sunset Zone

  H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

• Plant Type

  Bulb or Corm or Tuber

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun

• Height

  10"-20" / 25.4cm - 50.8cm

• Width

  4"-6" / 10.2cm - 15.2cm

• Native To

  World/Pandemic, North America, Europe, Russia/Siberia, Northern Africa, Asia, India

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Neutral

• Soil Drainage

  Well Drained

• Soil type

  Loam, Sand

• Tolerances

  Drought

• Growth Rate

  Medium

• Water Requirements

  Drought Tolerant, Average Water

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Showy

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Light Green

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Chartreuse

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Yellow Green

• Fragrant Flowers

  No

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  No

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  Yes

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  Yes

• Showy Fruit

  No

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  No

• Foliage Texture

  Medium

• Foliage Sheen

  Matte

• Evergreen

  Semi-Evergreen

• Showy Bark

  No

Special Characteristics

• Usage

  Alpine, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  No

• Attracts

  Hummingbirds, Butterflies

• Self-Sowing

  Yes