Chinese chives
Allium tuberosum · Amaryllidaceae
📷 Victor M. Vicente Selvas · Public domain
⚠️ Bulbes et feuilles peuvent endommager les globules rouges des chiens et surtout des chats ; le risque dépend de la quantité ingérée, crue ou cuite.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant chinese chives: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Allium tuberosum
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Type
- Perennial bulb
- Adult height
- About 50 cm
- Flowering
- June to August, white flowers
- Foliage
- Deciduous, linear and tubular
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (zones 3 to 10)
- Origin
- Southeast Asia
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Chinese chives (garlic chives) grow in productive clumps. Harvest leaf by leaf as needed, avoiding cutting entire stems.
The common mistake
Harvesting everything at once: you stress the plant and it struggles to regrow.
The pro's trick
Succession sowing (April, June, August) guarantees continuous production.
Care
Sunlight
Choose a location in full sun or partial shade for optimal growth and generous flowering. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily promotes bulb development. In very hot climates, light afternoon shade can prevent water stress.
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist during growth and flowering without creating waterlogging. Reduce watering in autumn and winter when foliage recedes. Light mulching helps retain moisture in summer.
Soil and planting
Prefer well-drained soil, rich in organic matter and slightly fertile. Plant bulbs 10-15 cm deep, spaced 15-20 cm apart. Improve the soil with well-decomposed compost at planting time.
Fertilizing
Apply compost or balanced organic fertilizer in spring when leaves emerge. A light second application in early summer supports flowering without excess nitrogen.
Pruning and maintenance
Remove spent flowers to extend blooming and prevent bulb exhaustion. Leave foliage in place until it fully withers to rebuild underground reserves. Clean up debris in late winter.
Diseases and pests
Chinese chives are generally robust and rarely susceptible to disease. Avoid excess moisture to prevent fungal rot. Thrips or aphids may occasionally appear: a water spray or mild soap usually suffices.
Did you know?
Chinese chives, also called 'Chinese garlic,' have been cultivated in Southeast Asia for millennia, not only for their delicate flavors blending onion and garlic, but also for their properties traditionally recognized in Chinese medicine. Their small white bulbs, more tender than common garlic, are favored in Asian cuisine to enhance stir-fried dishes and soups.
Where to buy it
Plant the bulbs in autumn for spring flowering. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from September to November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- RamsonsAllium ursinum
- ChivesAllium schoenoprasum
- Sand leekAllium scorodoprasum
- Elephant garlicAllium ampeloprasum
- OnionAllium cepa
- Belladonna lilyAmaryllis belladonna
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.