Garlic Chives are my favorite herb to grow; and, it's not because of the culinary uses, although those are amazing too. It's singularly because of the beautiful white flowers that sit on long sturdy stems from around July to October. It's no wonder I received so many requests to confirm what these lovely flowers where when posting some of their pictures!
About Garlic Chives
Garlic chives, sometimes called Chinese chives, are a part of the Allium family and are similar to onion chives. You can certainly see the family resemblance if you look at the grassy leaves and rounded flower tops. However, onion chives have more of a purple flower with rounder hollow chive leaves. Garlic chives on the other hand have dark green flat shiny leaves and brilliantly white flowers.
Tips for Growing Garlic Chives
- Garlic chives are perennials that can be grown up to Zone 3 and planted in spring either from their seeds (which there is plenty of) or from separation of their root base.
- Although garlic chives are very hardy, they are most week when young. They have very tiny tender leaves that are easy to mistake for grass or weeds if growing in an area that is not established for chives.
60 day old chives As such, if growing from seed it's best to start them in planters and move them to their permanent home at around 30 days old. Or, be strategic in where you plant them so you recognize them when the seedlings start to grow.
- Chives can grow in full sun. By full sun I mean all day in some of the hottest areas, even those crazy southern states. They can also do well in shade, on a patio in a pot or under a tree. They won't however produce as many flowers.
- Although chives can take the heat and are drought tolerant they do best (grow the largest with the most flowers) with a moderately moist soil.
- Garlic chives flowers give their best show after they have established their roots for a season and improve as they get older! These chives you see here are four years old! They are quite happy with large mounds of chives and many flowers!
Things to Consider When Growing Chives
Managing the Seeds
Garlic chives make a beautiful addition to a boarder or as you see here growing in front of taller plants. Gardeners however, need to be aware of their seeds! Each one of the individual flowers will form a seed pod.
In all honesty the seed stage of the Garlic Chive is quite beautiful. Flowers will stay on the stems for at least thirty days while the seeds form and the flowers dry out. There will be many many seeds and they will propagate themselves where ever they fall. However, what is left behind on the plant is dried pods that make very interesting dried flower arrangements. When going through the seed stage, to avoid issues, one should place their plants where they either do not care where the seeds fall, or simply cut the flowers and take them in to enjoy.
Companion planting with Garlic Chives
Planting garlic chives in your garden adds both beauty and sensibility as they are a natural deterrent for insects! Gardening Know How (one of my favorite sites) even reports they deter black spot on roses and scabs on apples. I actually have them growing under my apple tree! Honestly there are chives growing in multiple places around my yard. In addition as you can see from the short video below the bees absolutely flock to these flowers. so if your planning a fall garden, having garlic chives blooming should be a must in the drive for strong pollination!
Some key plants that benefit particularly well from chives are:
- Carrots
- Grapes
- Roses
- Tomatoes
- Corn
- Okra
- Squash
- Peppers
It is said to be an issue to grow garlic with peas and onions. I grew my garlic chives within two feet of peas this year and found no issue. This however may be because the garlic chive does not have the traditional bulb that garlic has. Unfortunately, one season does not make a trend as such I will be testing these combinations out some more.
Uses for Garlic Chives
- Both the flowers and the chives themselves can be eaten.
- Place chives or the flowers in salads.
- Use chives for stews or to season meats while cooking them. I love clipping long strands of chives, placing them on the grill and laying the meats on top of them. The smell is amazing!
- Here is a quick video on growing chives!
