Allium tuberosum
Chinese chives
Vigorous bulbous plant to 50cm tall, forming a clump of narrow, edible leaves, with umbels of small, fragrant, star-shaped white flowers in late summer and autumn
Synonyms
Allium uliginosum G. Don. non Ledeb.
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Green | ||
| Autumn | White | Green | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Himalaya China
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile moisture retentive well-drained soil in full sun. See chive cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe or in spring in a cold frame. Divide clumps in early spring or remove offsets in autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Susceptible to slugs, snails, allium leaf mining fly and onion fly but usually trouble free in the border
Diseases
Generally disease-free but may be susceptible to onion white rot and downy mildews
Get involved
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