Seeds Garlic Chives - Allium tuberosum

Allium tuberosum – Garlic chives

Origin and characteristics

Native to East Asia (China, Korea, Japan), garlic chives belong to the Allium family, closely related to garlic and onion. Widely used in Asian cuisine, it is appreciated for its flavourful leaves, digestive properties, and late ornamental flowering. Hardy and perennial, it comes back reliably each year.

Description and features

The plant forms a compact, upright clump of long, flat, glossy green leaves that release a mild garlic scent when cut. In late summer, it produces star-shaped white flowers in umbels, highly attractive to bees and pollinators.

• Mature height: 30–40 cm

• Width: 25–30 cm

• Habit: Herbaceous clump

• Foliage: Flat, aromatic, semi-evergreen

• Flowering: August to September

• Hardiness: Good (–15 to –20 °C)

• Perennial: Yes, 3 to 5 years in the same spot

Sowing and cultivation

• Sowing period: March to end of July

• Depth: 1 cm, sow thinly in rows or clusters

• Germination: 10–20 days

• Spacing: 20 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows

• Soil: Light, fertile, well-drained

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

Watering and care

• Keep soil slightly moist, especially in summer

• Use mulch to retain moisture

• Harvest: Around 3 months after sowing, then regularly

• Cut back to 2–3 cm to promote regrowth

• Divide clumps every 3 years to refresh

Culinary use

• Leaves: Finely chopped in salads, omelettes, soups, sauces, with rice, fish or meat

• Flowers: Edible, decorative in salads or crystallised

• A subtle alternative to garlic

• Can be frozen chopped (avoid drying, which dulls aroma)

Garden interest

• Aromatic, ornamental and bee-friendly

• Attracts pollinators in late summer

• Suitable for vegetable beds, herb planters, or balconies

• Good companion plant, deters certain pests

Tips for healthy growth

• Harvest regularly to avoid bolting

• Avoid overly dry or compact soils

• Apply compost or gentle fertilizer in spring

• Divide every 2–3 years for ongoing vigour

Allium tuberosum, or garlic chives, is a fragrant, decorative and easy-to-grow herb that combines culinary delight with garden charm.