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Common Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Common Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are a classic perennial herb featuring slender, tubular green leaves that grow in dense clumps and reach 12-18 inches tall. Delicate purple-pink pompom flowers appear in spring, adding ornamental appeal. Ready to harvest at 75-85 days from seed, though established plants provide year-round cutting. This hardy heirloom offers mild, delicate onion flavor with subtle sharpness, making it ideal for finishing dishes, garnishing soups, and creaming into sauces. Unlike stronger alliums, chives complement rather than overpower. Extremely cold-hardy and low-maintenance.

Harvest

75-85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

12-18 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Common Chives in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 allium →

Zone Map

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Common Chives · Zones 4–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-8 inches

SoilWell-drained soil, tolerates poor soils

pH6.0-7.0

WaterModerate, drought tolerant once established

SeasonPerennial

FlavorMild, delicate onion flavor with a slight sharpness

ColorBright green hollow leaves with purple flowers

Size1/8 inch diameter leaves, 8-12 inches tall

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	August – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	August – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	March – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	March – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	March – December
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	July – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	July – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	July – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	June – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	May – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	April – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	April – December

Complete Growing Guide

The Purly cultivar's upright growth habit makes it exceptionally suited for container gardening and tight spacing, requiring less frequent leaf tucking than spreading varieties like Staro. Plant in spring for summer harvesting, targeting the 75-85 day window for peak productivity. This variety prefers consistently moist but well-draining soil and full sun to part shade, though afternoon shade in hot climates prevents premature bolting—a common tendency in chives during intense heat. Purly shows excellent disease resistance when given adequate air circulation, but watch for spider mites in dry conditions. The straighter leaf structure means easier harvesting without untangling sprawling growth. For optimal productivity, pinch flower buds regularly unless you're specifically cultivating for edible blooms, which extends the harvest season while maintaining tender leaf quality.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 5 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches, 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Common Chives reach peak harvest readiness when the hollow green leaves stand fully upright and measure 6-8 inches tall with a vibrant, deep green color and firm texture that snaps cleanly when bent. For continuous harvests throughout the growing season, pinch or cut leaves from the outer edges of the plant rather than harvesting the entire clump at once, allowing the center to regenerate for repeated yields. Begin harvesting once plants are established at around 60 days, timing your cuts in early morning after dew dries to maximize flavor intensity and ensure the leaves remain crisp and tender for immediate use in culinary applications.

3-valved capsule opens in summer to disperse many seeds

Type: Capsule. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Harvest time: Summer

Storage & Preservation

Fresh chives store best in the refrigerator, lasting 7-10 days when wrapped loosely in damp paper towels inside a plastic bag. For optimal flavor retention, avoid washing until ready to use, as excess moisture accelerates deterioration.

Freezing preserves chives' flavor remarkably well—simply chop fresh leaves and freeze in ice cube trays with a little water, then transfer frozen cubes to freezer bags. This method maintains their bright flavor for up to 6 months. Alternatively, flash-freeze chopped chives on a baking sheet before storing in freezer containers.

For year-round seasoning, dry chives by hanging small bundles in a warm, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Once crispy (5-7 days), crumble leaves into airtight containers. While dried chives lack the punch of fresh ones, they're excellent for soups and cooked dishes. The edible flowers can be frozen in ice cubes for elegant drink garnishes or dried for herbal teas.

History & Origin

Allium schoenoprasum, commonly known as chives, originated in temperate regions across the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and North America, where wild populations have been documented for centuries. The herb was cultivated by medieval European gardeners and has been integrated into culinary traditions across multiple continents. While specific breeding records for modern cultivars like "Purly" are limited in readily available documentation, the variety likely emerged through conventional selection within seed company breeding programs during the twentieth century, focusing on traits such as upright growth habit and leaf straightness. The exact breeder and introduction year remain unclear, but the cultivar represents ongoing refinement of this ancient species for contemporary horticultural and culinary applications.

Origin: Temperate Northern Hemisphere

Advantages

+Easy to grow with minimal difficulty for beginner gardeners
+Very disease resistant with only occasional rust in humid conditions
+Edible flowers add mild, sweet onion flavor to many dishes
+Ready to harvest in just 75-85 days from planting
+Upright growth habit makes harvesting and maintenance convenient

Considerations

-Susceptible to aphids and thrips pest infestations
-Rust disease can develop in consistently humid growing conditions
-Mild flavor may be too subtle for some culinary applications

Companion Plants

Chives earn their keep next to carrots, roses, and tomatoes mostly through smell. The sulfur compounds in the foliage confuse aphids and carrot rust fly (Psila rosae), and rose growers have tucked them at the base of bushes for generations to cut down on aphid pressure — anecdotal, but consistent enough that I do it too. With cabbage and lettuce, chives work as a low border that doesn't compete underground; chive roots stay in the top 6 inches, so they share a bed politely with brassicas and greens. Strawberries get a mild bonus against Botrytis from the alliums nearby.\n\nThe problem with beans, peas, and asparagus is straight allelopathy. Alliums leak compounds that suppress the Rhizobium bacteria legumes need to fix nitrogen, so your bush beans sulk and yellow within a few weeks. Around here in the southeast where the spring pea window closes by mid-May anyway, it's not worth the gamble — give chives their own corner 3-4 feet from the legume bed.

Plant Together

Tomatoes

Chives repel aphids and may improve tomato flavor and growth

Carrots

Chives deter carrot fly and other root pests while improving carrot flavor

Roses

Chives help prevent black spot and aphids on roses, classic companion pairing

Cabbage

Repels cabbage worms, aphids, and other brassica pests

Lettuce

Chives deter aphids and slugs while providing natural pest control

Strawberries

Helps repel slugs, ants, and aphids that commonly attack strawberry plants

Peppers

Deters aphids and may enhance pepper growth and flavor

Parsley

Compatible herbs that don't compete and may mutually enhance growth

Keep Apart

Beans

Chives can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation

Peas

Alliums can stunt pea growth and interfere with their development

Asparagus

Chives may inhibit asparagus spear development and overall plant vigor

Nutrition Facts

Calories

30kcal(2%)

Protein

3.27g(7%)

Fiber

2.5g(9%)

Carbs

4.35g(2%)

Fat

0.73g(1%)

Vitamin C

58.1mg(65%)

Vitamin A

218mcg(24%)

Vitamin K

213mcg(178%)

Iron

1.6mg(9%)

Calcium

92mg(7%)

Potassium

296mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169994)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Excellent disease resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, thrips (rarely problematic)

Diseases

Very disease resistant, occasional rust in humid conditions

Troubleshooting Common Chives

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Clusters of small green or gray insects on the flower stalks and leaf tips in late spring

Likely Causes

Aphids (usually Neotoxoptera formosana, the onion aphid) drawn to soft new growth
Nearby aphid-heavy crops like roses or kale acting as a reservoir

What to Do

1.Blast them off with a hard spray of water in the morning — chive leaves are tough and bounce back
2.Cut the whole clump to 2 inches if infestation is heavy; fresh regrowth comes in clean within 10-14 days
3.Leave some flowers for hoverflies and lacewings, which will mop up the rest

Orange or rusty-brown pustules on the leaves during humid stretches in July and August

Likely Causes

Leek rust (Puccinia allii), which thrives above 70°F with prolonged leaf wetness
Crowded clumps with poor airflow — chives left undivided for 3+ years

What to Do

1.Shear the clump to the ground and bag the infected foliage (don't compost it)
2.Divide clumps every 3 years in early spring, replanting divisions 8 inches apart
3.Water at the base in the morning, never overhead in the evening

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do chives take to grow from seed?▼

Chives take 75-90 days to reach harvestable size from seed, though you can begin light harvesting once plants reach 6 inches tall. Germination occurs in 7-14 days under proper conditions (60-70°F), but growth is initially slow. For faster results, start with transplants or divisions, which provide harvests in just 30 days.

Can you grow chives in containers?▼

Absolutely! Chives are excellent container herbs, requiring only 6-8 inches of pot depth and good drainage. Use a pot at least 8 inches wide to accommodate their clumping growth. Container chives can be brought indoors during winter in cold climates, providing fresh herbs year-round on a sunny windowsill.

Are chives good for beginner gardeners?▼

Chives are perfect for beginners due to their forgiving nature and low maintenance requirements. They tolerate poor soil, irregular watering once established, and have excellent disease resistance. The biggest challenge is patience during the initial growing phase, but once established, they're virtually foolproof.

What do chive flowers taste like?▼

Chive flowers have a mild, sweet onion flavor that's more delicate than the leaves. The purple globe flowers separate into individual florets that add beautiful color and subtle onion taste to salads, soups, and garnishes. Harvest flowers just as they fully open for the best flavor and texture.

When should I divide my chive plants?▼

Divide chive clumps every 3-4 years in early spring, just as new growth emerges but before active growing season begins. Signs your chives need dividing include reduced vigor, smaller leaves, or clumps becoming so dense that centers start dying out. Each division should have roots and several shoots attached.

Do chives come back every year?▼

Yes, chives are hardy perennials that return reliably each spring in zones 3-9. They'll die back to the ground after hard frost but emerge again when soil temperatures warm in spring. In mild winter areas, they may remain evergreen and provide harvests year-round.