Chives

Chives are a bulb-forming herbaceous perennial plant, growing to {{convert|25|cm|frac=2}} tall.{{Cite book |last=Francis-Baker |first=Tiffany |title=Concise Foraging Guide |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-4729-8474-6 |series=The Wildlife Trusts |location=London |pages=92}} The bulbs are slender, conical, {{convert|2|–|3|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} long and {{convert|1|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} broad, and grow in dense clusters from the roots. The scapes (or stems) are hollow and tubular, up to {{convert|50|cm|abbr=on}} long{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} and {{convert|2|–|3|mm|abbr=on|frac=16}} across, with a soft texture, although, prior to the emergence of a flower, they may appear stiffer than usual. The grass-like leaves, which are shorter than the scapes, are also hollow and tubular, or terete (round in cross-section).

The flowers are pale purple, and star-shaped with six petals, {{convert|1|–|2|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} wide, and produced in a dense inflorescence of 10–30 together; before opening, the inflorescence is surrounded by a papery bract. The seeds are produced in a small, three-valved capsule, maturing in summer. The herb flowers from April to May in the southern parts of its habitat zones and in June in the northern parts.[http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J270 Allium schoenoprasum factsheet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319144133/http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J270 |date=2008-03-19 }}, from Kemper center for home gardening, retrieved on June 13, 2006, based on the position of the botanical Garden (Missouri){{Cite book |last=Creasy |first=Rosalind |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JAHQAgAAQBAJ&dq=where+in+world+do+chives+blossom+&pg=PT13 |title=The Edible Flower Garden |date=2012-11-27 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=978-1-4629-0617-8 |language=en}}

Chives are the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.{{Cite web |title=Mushrooms and Egg with Chives |url=https://www.valleytable.com/vt-article/chives |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=www.valleytable.com |date=21 March 2019 |language=en}}Ernest Small {{google books|iZBFAQAAQBAJ|North American Cornucopia: Top 100 Indigenous Food Plants (2014)|page=230}}James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) {{Google books|CkxWrDqtWLQC|The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification|page=133}} Sometimes, the plants found in North America are classified as A. schoenoprasum var. sibiricum, although this is disputed. Differences between specimens are significant. One example was found in northern Maine growing solitary, instead of in clumps, also exhibiting dingy grey flowers.{{cite book

| last = McGary

| first = Mary Jane

| year = 2001

| title = Bulbs of North America: North American Rock Garden Society

| publisher = Timber Press

| location = Portland

| id = 088192511X

| pages = 28–29

}}

Close relatives of chives include common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion,{{cite book |author=Block, E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6AB89RHV9ucC |title=Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science |publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-85404-190-9}} and Chinese onion.{{cite web |title=AllergyNet — Allergy Advisor Find |url=http://www.allallergy.net/fapaidfind.cfm?cdeoc=684 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615004222/http://allallergy.net/fapaidfind.cfm?cdeoc=684 |archive-date=June 15, 2010 |access-date=April 14, 2010 |publisher=Allallergy.net}}

The terete hollow leaves distinguish the plant from Allium tuberosum (garlic chives).

It was formally described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal publication Species Plantarum in 1753.{{cite web|title=Allium schoenoprasum L. is an accepted name| url= http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-296525|date=23 March 2012| work= theplantlist.org|access-date=19 November 2017}}{{cite web|title=Alliaceae Allium schoenoprasum L.| url= http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=528823-1| work= ipni.org |access-date=19 November 2017}}

The name of the species derives from the Greek σχοίνος, skhoínos (sedge or rush) and πράσον, práson (leek).{{cite web |url= http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/mono/allia/alliu/allisch.html|title=Den virtuella floran: Allium schoenoprasum L. - Gräslök| first= Anna-Lena |last= Anderberg|work=nrm.se}} Its English name, chives, derives from the French word cive, from cepa, the Latin word for onion.{{cite web| url= http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa022398.htm| title= Chive Selection and Storage| first= Peggy| last= Trowbridge Filippone| work= About.com Food| access-date= 2006-06-13| archive-date= 2008-09-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080922050820/http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa022398.htm| url-status= dead}}{{cite book |last1= Linford| first1= Jenny| title=A concise guide to herbs|date=2010|publisher=Parragon|location=Bath|isbn=9781405487993|page=45}} In the Middle Ages, it was known as 'rush leek'.

Several subspecies have been proposed, but are not accepted by Plants of the World Online, {{as of|2021|July|lc=yes}}, which sinks them into two subspecies:

• Allium schoenoprasum subsp. gredense (Rivas Goday) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata{{cite web |title=Allium schoenoprasum subsp. gredense (Rivas Goday) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:953275-1 |access-date=2021-07-12 }}
• Allium schoenoprasum subsp. latiorifolium (Pau) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata{{cite web |title=Allium schoenoprasum subsp. latiorifolium (Pau) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:953276-1 |access-date=2021-07-12 }}

Varieties have also been proposed, including A. schoenoprasum var. sibiricum. The Flora of North America notes that the species is very variable, and considers recognition of varieties as "unsound".{{Cite web |title=Allium schoenoprasum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200027528 |access-date=2017-06-18 |website=www.efloras.org}}

Chives are native to temperate areas of Europe, Asia and North America.{{cite web|title=Taxon: Allium schoenoprasum L.|url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=2369|publisher=ars-grin.gov|access-date=19 November 2017}}{{cite web |title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=296525 |work=kew.org}}{{Cite web |title=Allium schoenoprasum in Flora of China @ efloras.org |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027528 |access-date=2017-06-18 |website=www.efloras.org}}{{cite journal |last1=Tardiff |first1=B. |last2=Morisset |first2=P. |year=1990 |title=Clinal morphological variation of Allium schoenoprasum in eastern North America |journal=Taxon |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=417–429 |doi=10.2307/1223088 |jstor=1223088}}[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=allium+schoenoprasum Altervista Flora Italiana, Erba cipollina, wild chives, Civette, Schnittlauch, Allium schoenoprasum L.] includes photos, drawings, European distribution map, etc.

Chives have a wide natural range across much of the Northern Hemisphere.{{cite POWO |id=528823-1 |title=Allium schoenoprasum L. |access-date=22 September 2024}}

In Asia it is native from the Ural Mountains in Russia to Kamchatka in the far east. It grows natively in the Korean peninsula, but only the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu in Japan.{{cite web |last1=Hassler |first1=Michael |title=Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 24.9 |url=https://www.worldplants.de/ |website=World Plants |access-date=22 September 2024 |date=19 September 2024}} Likewise its natural range in China only extends to Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, though it is also found in adjacent Mongolia. It is native to all the nations of the Caucasus. However, in Central Asia it is only found in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. To the south its range also extends to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and the Western Himalayas in India.

It is native to all parts of Europe with the exception of Sicily, Sardinia, the island of Cyprus, Iceland, Crimea, and Hungary and other offshore islands. It also is not native to Belgium and Ireland, but it grows there as an introduced plant.

In North America it is native to Alaska and almost every province of Canada, but has been introduced to the island of Newfoundland. In the United States the certain native range in the lower 48 is in two separated areas. In the west its range is in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. In the east it extends from Minnesota, eastward through Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Then northward into New York and all of New England. The Plants of the World Online database lists it as introduced to Illinois and Maryland and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database additionally lists it as growing in Nevada, Utah, Missouri, and Virginia without information on if it is native or introduced to those states.{{cite usda plants|symbol=ALSC |title=Allium schoenoprasum |date=22 September 2024}}

In other areas of the Americas chives grow as an introduced plant in Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Trinidad, Colombia, Bolivia, and the southern part of Argentina in Tierra del Fuego.

Chives are repulsive to most insects due to their sulfur compounds, but their flowers attract bees, and they are at times kept to increase desired insect life.Baines, C. Making a Wildlife Garden. 0

The plant provides a great deal of nectar for pollinators. It was rated in the top 10 for most nectar production (nectar per unit cover per year) in a United Kingdom plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.{{cite web |date=2014-10-15 |title=Which flowers are the best source of nectar? |url=http://www.conservationgrade.org/2014/10/which_flowers_best_source_nectar/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214024659/http://www.conservationgrade.org/2014/10/which_flowers_best_source_nectar/ |archive-date=2019-12-14 |access-date=2017-10-18 |publisher=Conservation Grade}}

File:Leiden University Library - Seikei Zusetsu vol. 24, page 008 - 浅葱 - Allium schoenoprasum L., 1804.jpg (1804)]]

Chives have been cultivated in Europe since the Middle Ages (from the fifth until the 15th centuries), although their usage dates back 5,000 years.

Chives are cultivated both for their culinary uses and for their ornamental value; the violet flowers are often used in ornamental dry bouquets.{{cite web |title=Flower & Garden Magazine, June-July 1996, The lazy gardener's guide to potpourri |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1082/is_n3_v40/ai_18339595/pg_2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040923001542/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1082/is_n3_v40/ai_18339595/pg_2 |archive-date=2004-09-23 |work=findarticles.com}}

Chives thrive in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, with a pH of 6–7 and full sun.{{cite web |title=Allium schoenoprasum - Plant Finder |url=http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J270 |publisher=mobot.org |access-date=2006-06-13 |archive-date=2008-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319144133/http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J270 |url-status=dead }} They can be grown from seed and mature in summer, or early the following spring. Typically, chives need to be germinated at a temperature of {{convert|15|to|20|C|F}} and kept moist. They can also be planted under a cloche or germinated indoors in cooler climates, then planted out later. After at least four weeks, the young shoots should be ready to be planted out. They are also easily propagated by division.{{cite book |last=McGee |first=Rose Marie Nichols |title=The Bountiful Container |author2=Stuckey, Maggie |publisher=Workman Publishing |year=2002}}

In cold regions, chives die back to the underground bulbs in winter, with the new leaves appearing in early spring. Chives starting to look old can be cut back to about 2–5 cm. When harvesting, the needed number of stalks should be cut to the base. During the growing season, the plant continually regrows leaves, allowing for a continuous harvest.

Chives are susceptible to damage by leek moth larvae, which bore into the leaves or bulbs of the plant.{{Cite journal |last=Landry |first=Jean-François |date=June 2007 |title=Taxonomic review of the leek moth genus Acrolepiopsis (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae) in North America |journal=The Canadian Entomologist |volume=139 |issue=3 |pages=319–353 |doi=10.4039/n06-098 |issn=1918-3240 |s2cid=86748199}}

{{nutritional value

| name = Chives, raw

| image = Cocinando.jpg

| caption = Cut chive leaves as used for preparing food

| kJ = 126

| protein = 3.27 g

| fat = 0.73 g

| carbs = 4.35 g

| fiber = 2.5 g

| sugars = 1.85 g

| calcium_mg = 92

| iron_mg = 1.6

| magnesium_mg = 42

| phosphorus_mg = 58

| potassium_mg = 296

| zinc_mg = 0.56

| manganese_mg = 0.373

| vitC_mg = 58.1

| thiamin_mg = 0.078

| riboflavin_mg = 0.115

| niacin_mg = 0.647

| pantothenic_mg = 0.324

| vitB6_mg = 0.138

| folate_ug = 105

| vitA_ug = 218

| betacarotene_ug = 2612

| lutein_ug = 323

| vitE_mg = 0.21

| vitK_ug = 212.7

| source_usda = 1

| note = [https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169994/nutrients Link to USDA Database entry]

}}

{{Cookbook|Chive}}

Chives are grown for their scapes and leaves, which are used for culinary purposes as a flavoring herb, and provide a somewhat milder onion-like flavor than those of other Allium species.{{Cite web|date=2010-05-18|title=Chives Vs. Green Onions|url=https://tastessence.com/chives-vs-green-onions|access-date=2021-05-27|website=Tastessence|language=en-US}} The edible flowers are used in salads,{{cite web |last1=Durand |first1=Faith |date=23 May 2008 |title=Tip: How to Use Chive Blossoms in Salads and Other Dishes |url=http://www.thekitchn.com/tip-how-to-use-chive-blossoms-51544 |access-date=24 May 2017 |publisher=thekitchn.com}} or used to make blossom vinegars.Margaret Roberts {{google books|6jRsF1nOmqgC|Edible & Medicinal Flowers|page=146}} Both the scapes and the unopened, immature flower buds are diced and used as an ingredient for omelettes, fish, potatoes, soups, and many other dishes. The scapes are often paired with cream cheese.{{Cite book |last=The Culinary Institute of America |author-link=The Culinary Institute of America |title=The Professional Chef |publisher=Wiley |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-470-42 135-2 |edition=9th |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |page=180}}

Chives have a wide variety of culinary uses, such as in traditional dishes in France, Sweden, and elsewhere.Försök til en Flora Oeconomica Sveciæ by A. J. Retzius (1806) In his 1806 book Attempt at a Flora (Försök til en flora), Anders Jahan Retzius describes how chives are used with pancakes, soups, fish, and sandwiches. They are also an ingredient of the gräddfil sauce with the traditional herring dish served at Swedish midsummer celebrations. The flowers and scapes may also be used to garnish dishes.[http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/allschoenoprasum.htm Allium schoenoprasum], from Mountain valley growers, accessed on June 13, 2006

In Poland and Germany, chives are served with quark. Chives are one of the fines herbes of French cuisine, the others being tarragon, chervil and parsley. Chives can be found fresh at most markets year-round, making them readily available; they can also be dry-frozen without much impairment to the taste, giving home growers the opportunity to store large quantities harvested from their own gardens.

Retzius also describes how farmers would plant chives between the rocks making up the borders of their flowerbeds, to keep the plants free from pests (such as Japanese beetles).{{cite web|url=http://www.selfsufficientish.com/pests.htm|title=pests – selfsufficientish – pests|author=Andy Hamilton|work=selfsufficientish.com}} The growing plant repels unwanted insect life, and the juice of the leaves can be used for the same purpose, as well as fighting fungal infections, mildew, and scab.Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 {{ISBN|0-87857-262-7}}Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 {{ISBN|0-88266-064-0}}Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 {{ISBN|0-333-47494-5}}{{cite book |last=Kaufman |first=Peter B |url=https://archive.org/details/naturalproductsf00kauf_0 |title=Natural Products from Plants |author2=Thomas J Carlson |author3=Kaufman B Kaufman |author4=Harry L Brielmann |author5=Sara Warber |author6=Leland J Cseke |author7=James A Duke |publisher=CRC Press |year=1999 |isbn=9780849331343 |location=Boca Raton |pages=[https://archive.org/details/naturalproductsf00kauf_0/page/261 261] |id=084933134X |url-access=registration}}

In Europe, chives were sometimes referred to as "rush leeks".Nicholas Culpeper {{google books|lgBBAQAAMAAJ|Culpeper's Complete Herbal, and English Physician (1826)|page=37}}

It was mentioned in 80 A.D. by Marcus Valerius Martialis in his "Epigrams".

{{Blockquote| He who bears chives on his breath, Is safe from being kissed to death.{{Better source needed|reason=This epigram was not found in any epigram collections checked on October 2021 - can someone more familiar with the works of Martial please find a better source (or remove this quote, if it's misattributed)?|date=October 2021}} }}

The Romans believed chives could relieve the pain from sunburn or a sore throat. They believed eating chives could increase blood pressure and act as a diuretic.{{cite book |title= 75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden |last= Staub |first= Jack E. |year= 2008 |publisher= Gibbs Smith |isbn= 978-1-4236-0251-4 |page= 54 }}

Romani have used chives in fortune telling.[http://www.sallys-place.com/food/columns/gilbert/chives.htm Chives], from "Sally's place", accessed on June 13, 2006 Bunches of dried chives hung around a house were believed to ward off disease and evil.{{cite web|url=http://www.sallys-place.com/food/columns/gilbert/chives.htm|title=Chives|publisher=sallys-place.com}}

In the 19th century, Dutch farmers fed cattle on the herb to give a different taste to their milk.

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiversity-bc|Allium schoenoprasum}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Allium schoenoprasum}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061016183933/http://www.foodgenius.com/index.cgi?ndb_no=11156&action=nutrition Nutritional Information]
• {{PFAF|Allium schoenoprasum}}
• [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/chives65.html Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" @ Botanical.com]
• {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Chive|volume=6|page=253|short=1}}

{{Allium}}

{{Herbs & spices}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q51148}}

Category:Allium

Category:Flora of temperate Asia

Category:Flora of Europe

Category:Flora of Northern America

Category:Garden plants

Category:Herbs

Category:Medicinal plants of Asia

Category:Medicinal plants of Europe

Category:Medicinal plants of North America

Category:Plants described in 1753