Chinese Chives

(Allium tuberosum)

Chinese Chives (Allium tuberosum)

Felix

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Felix

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Felix | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: involuntarius | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Allium tuberosum, commonly known as Chinese Chives or Garlic Chives, is a rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial herb native to the mountainous regions of China’s Shanxi province and the Himalayas. It thrives in meadows and along stream banks, adapting well to a wide range of soil conditions. This plant grows from a small, elongated bulb that is tough and fibrous, reaching a typical height of 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm). The leaves are strap-shaped with triangular bases, about 1.5 to 8 mm (1⁄16 to 5⁄16 in) wide, and the plant produces many white flowers in a round cluster (umbel) on stalks 25 to 60 cm (10 to 24 in) tall. The flowers bloom in late summer and are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Chinese Chives are valued for their ornamental appeal, including their showy white flowers and their ability to provide a fresh green presence throughout the growing season. They are easy to maintain, tolerating a range of light conditions from full sun to part shade, and require moderate watering. They are commonly used in border plantings, herb gardens, and as ground cover. The leaves and flower buds are popular in culinary applications for their garlic-like flavor. While generally disease-free, they can become invasive due to their vigorous self-seeding; hence, deadheading is recommended to control spread. In cultivation, they can be propagated by seed or by dividing clumps in spring or fall.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 1-1.5 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: White
Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

native to the mountainous regions of China’s Shanxi province and the Himalayas

Other Names

Common Names: Garlic Chives, Oriental Garlic, Asian Chives, Chinese Leek, Ail Chinois, Chinese Bieslook, Kinesisk Gräslök, 부추, 韭菜

Scientific Names: , Allium tuberosum, Allium chinense, Allium clarkei, Allium uliginosum, Allium argyi, Allium roxburghii, Allium sulvia, Allium tuberosum f. yezoense, Allium tuberosum subsp. yezoense

GBIF Accepted Name: Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng.