Botanical profile

Chinese garlic chives

Latin name
Allium tuberosum
Common name
Chinese garlic chives
Type
Perennial aromatic herb
Family
Amaryllidaceae

Chinese garlic chives are a popular perennial herb, appreciated for their flat, dark green, aromatic foliage with a delicate, mild garlic flavor. Widely used in Asian cuisine, they add a fragrant taste to stir-fries, dumplings, soups, omelets, noodles, rice, vegetables, sauces, and marinades. Milder than fresh garlic, they allow for a flavorful note without overpowering recipes, while also providing a beautiful texture in vegetable gardens, containers, and herb gardens.

Easy to grow, Chinese garlic chives prefer a sunny to lightly partially shaded location, in fertile, fresh, well-drained soil. They grow very well both in the ground and in pots, making them ideal for patios, balconies, urban vegetable gardens, and herb boxes near the kitchen. Regular harvesting of the foliage encourages the production of new tender shoots and helps keep the plant dense, productive, and easy to maintain.

At the end of the season, Chinese garlic chives produce pretty white umbel flowers, which are decorative, edible, and very popular with pollinators. Robust and durable, they return year after year once established and integrate perfectly into a gourmet, aromatic, and biodiverse garden. It is an excellent plant for gardeners looking for a perennial, flavorful, versatile herb that is particularly useful in Asian cuisine.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Edible flat leaves with a mild garlic flavor and fragrant white flowers
Vegetable patch, herbs, Asian cuisine, balcony, container, pollinator garden
Container growing
Excellent in pots in a well-drained container
Seasonal care
Cut back spent flowers to limit self-seeding; divide clumps every 3 to 4 years; cut back dry foliage in spring
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 3
Exposure
Sun to partial shade
Watering
Regular; keep the soil slightly moist without waterlogging
Humidity
Average humidity; prefers fresh but well-drained soil
Fertilization
Compost in spring; light fertilization as needed
Soil type
Fertile, fresh, and well-drained soil
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Minimum temperature
-30°C
Propagation method
Sowing or division
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Late summer to early autumn
Flower color
White
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Dense tuft of flat leaves
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Width
25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 inches)
Growth rate
Rapid growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Carrots, tomatoes, lettuces, cabbages
Plants to avoid
Legumes
Spacing
20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches)
Harvest period
Leaves from spring to autumn; flowers in late summer
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Butterflies
Plants that attract butterflies

Butterflies

Repellent
Helps repel certain pests

Repellent

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.