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Herb

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

A tough perennial clump with mild onion-flavoured leaves and edible purple flowers that bees love. It grows in garden beds or pots and comes back each spring. Cut leaves near the base often, and divide clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (2)

  • Common chivesFine hollow leaves and purple flowers; the standard kitchen chive
  • Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum)Flat leaves with a garlic flavour and white flowers; flowers late summer. Deadhead to prevent self-seeding

Neighbours

Grows well with

Keep away from

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    20 cm apart, seed 6 mm deep. Full sun or part shade.

  2. Water

    Regular.

  3. Feed

    Light feed in spring.

  4. Pick, from about 9 weeks

    Cut to 5 cm.

Good to know

  • Cut whole clumps of leaves at 2 to 3 cm above soil to encourage fresh regrowth
  • Divide every 2 to 3 years in late winter
  • Grow in a pot near the kitchen door so it gets used

Common problems

  • Rust (orange spots on leaves)cut affected foliage to the ground, water at the base; new growth is usually clean
  • Thin, weak growthdivide clumps and replant into compost-enriched soil
  • Aphids or thripshose off; healthy clumps usually recover

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about chivesAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing chivesQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Wildlife

Good for: bees.

Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.