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Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Chives blooms from May through June.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Chives
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. Expect it to reach about 12 in tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Chives
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Chives into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from May to June.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in April.
Good to know about Chives
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses: it is an Allium. The sulfur compounds damage red blood cells, causing Heinz-body hemolytic anemia. Safe for people though. per ASPCA and Merck
Worth knowing
One chemistry does three jobs: the onion-family sulfur compounds are the mild flavor, the scent that repels deer, and the toxin that poisons pets. per NC State
Zone limits vary by source
Wisconsin lists it hardy to zone 3; NC State caps the warm end at 8b. The reliable core is zones 3 to 8, so treat zone 9 as heat-marginal. per Wisconsin and NC State
Leaves and flowers both edible
The hollow leaves add a mild onion flavor to eggs, salads and dips; the lavender-pink flowerheads are edible too, used in salads and as a garnish. per Illinois
Self-seeds; deadhead to control
Not a mint-type runner, but it self-seeds freely and can overtake a bed. Deadhead spent flowers before seed sets to control it, or leave some for the bees. per Wisconsin
Divide clumps every few years
A long-lived perennial that returns each spring. Divide the clump every 2 to 4 years in spring, each division carrying several bulblets, to prevent overcrowding and keep it vigorous. per Wisconsin and University of Minnesota
Cut near the base
Once leaves reach 6 in, cut near the base, about 1 to 2 in above the soil, not just the tips; take some per clump and it regrows all season. per NC State
What pairs well with Chives
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Joe Pye Weed
Shares full sun and moderate to high water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
False Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Passionflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; echoes the purple.
Rose of Sharon
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; stands well above at 8.2 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Lavender
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into late summer; both are strong pollinator plants; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Crocosmia
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months.
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