Chives Allium spp.

Common Name:
Chives

Description:
Allium spp., commonly known as Chives, are a versatile and easy-to-grow perennial herb valued for their mild onion flavour and attractive ornamental qualities. Forming dense clumps of slender, hollow green leaves, chives are ideal for edging garden beds, herb patches, or growing in pots. In Melbourne’s climate, they thrive in full sun to part shade with well-drained, fertile soil and regular watering. From spring through summer, they produce rounded clusters of soft pink to mauve-purple flowers on upright stems, adding visual appeal while attracting bees and beneficial insects. Both the leaves and flowers are edible, making chives a practical and decorative addition to kitchen gardens. Regular harvesting encourages fresh, tender growth and helps maintain a neat, compact form.

Form:
Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
Height: 30–50 cm
Width: 30–50 cm

Aspect:
Full Sun
Part Shade

Flowering:
Flowers in Spring
Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
Pink
Mauve-purple

Key Attributes:
Bee Attracting
Edible Flowers
Edible Leaves
Herbaceous
Perennial
Suitable for Pots

Toxicity:
Toxic to dogs and cats if ingested in large quantities, as with other members of the Allium family.

Companion Plants:
Carrots
Tomatoes
Roses
Lettuce
Strawberries
Apple trees