Common Names
Chives

Botanical Name
Allium schoenoprasum

Plant Family
Amaryllidaceae

Native Range
Asia

Life Cycle
Perennial

Hardiness Zone
3-9

Habit
To 1ft tall with hollow leaves and purple flowers. Clump forming. Often grown as an ornamental as well as a kitchen herb.

Sun/Soil
Full sun to partial sun, prefers well-drained soil but will tolerate most soil types.

Germination/Sowing
Chives can be direct sown in the garden in spring or fall, or started indoors in flats and then transplanted out.

Growing/Care
Chives are very drought tolerant and require little to no water throughout the growing season once established. Clumps can be divided in spring or fall of 3rd or 4th year to increase vigour, or propagate new plants.

Harvesting
Once the plants are mature they can be harvested by snipping to the ground with scissors. They will re-grow for several harvests throughout the season. The flowers can be collected individually. The flower stalks are to fibrous to use.

Culinary Uses
Tender blades of chives can be chopped and added fresh to a variety of dishes for a fresh green onion flavour. The flowers are edible, and make a pretty and tasty addition to salads.

Medicinal Uses
Chives are antimicrobial and blood cleansing, they are also warming and help to increase circulation in the body. 

Themes
Attracts Pollinators, Deer Resistant, Kitchen Garden, Low Maintenance, Drought Tolerant.