Melinda Myers

Chives

Botanical Name

Allium schoenoprasum

Hardiness

Zones 4 to 8

Height

12 inches

Width

18 inches

Flowers

Late spring to early summer: 1 inch dense spherical umbel, pale purple

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Well drained, tolerates moist

Planting & Care

• Chive seeds germinate in temperatures 45 F to 95 F
• Plants can be direct seeded in spring or brought in as transplants or divisions
• Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in the garden
• Plants will benefit from being dug and divided every 3 years
• Removing the flowers will help prevent re-seeding and mid-summer dormancy

Problems

None serious

Varieties

• Forescate - rose red flowers
• Corsica - white flowers
• Albiflorum - white flowers