# Chives (*Allium schoenoprasum*) Chives are green, grassy plants that taste like mild onions. They are often used in cooking to add flavor to dishes and can grow in gardens or pots. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 22 - **Habitat:** Gardens - **Also known as:** Chinese Chives, Garlic Chives ![Chives](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426235/objects/1591.jpg) ## Appearance The Chives has thin, hollow, grass-like leaves forming dense green clumps. Its distinctive globe-shaped flower heads are typically a beautiful lavender-purple or pink, standing proudly above the foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Amaryllidaceae - **Genus:** Allium ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans believed chives could soothe sore throats and act as a diuretic! - Cutting chives releases a special sulfur compound that gives them their unique flavor and smell! - Just a tablespoon of fresh chives adds Vitamin K, important for strong bones! - The word 'chive' comes from the Latin word 'cepa,' meaning onion. ## Special abilities - **Regrowth Power:** Chives can quickly regrow their leaves after being cut, allowing multiple harvests through the growing season. - **Pest Repeller:** Chives release compounds that naturally deter common garden pests, protecting nearby plants without chemicals. - **Cold Resistor:** Chives possess strong cold hardiness, allowing them to survive frosty winters and regrow vigorously in spring. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-50 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring - Early Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits chive flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** Onion Thrips (*Thrips tabaci*) — feeds on chive leaves and flowers - **Eats:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — cultivates and consumes chives ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Chives are safe to touch and eat, but always wash them before eating! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chives? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Chives? 20-50 cm ### How wide does Chives spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Chives? 2-4 cm ### When does Chives bloom? Late Spring - Early Summer ### Is Chives edible? Yes ### Is Chives toxic? None ### What is Chives's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site - [Cumberland Mills Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cumberland-mills-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Stroudwater Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stroudwater-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum (Berlin)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanischer-garten-und-botanisches-museum-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park - [Freizeitpark Rheinaue (Bonn)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/freizeitpark-rheinaue-bonn) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park - [Beaver Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/beaver-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Chives](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/chives) ## Watch - [Play video: Chives](https://www.snappit.app/videos/chives) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=hsACLsFfcPk) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Chives: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chives)