Chives
Chives
An Easy Edible Herb with Pretty Pom-Pom Flowers
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are one of the most rewarding herbs you can grow, a hardy perennial that returns every spring with a flush of slender, oniony leaves perfect for the kitchen, followed by cheerful lavender-pink pom-pom flowers that are both edible and adored by bees. Easy, tidy, and ornamental enough for the flower border, chives earn their place in any sunny Edina, Maple Grove, or Woodbury garden. Deer and rabbits leave them alone.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Allium schoenoprasum |
| Mature Size | 10–12 in tall and wide |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 3–9 (fully hardy across Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun to light shade |
| Bloom Time | Late spring to early summer |
| Flower Color | Lavender-pink (edible) |
| Soil | Average, well-drained; adaptable |
Landscape Uses
Grow chives in herb and vegetable gardens, sunny borders, and containers near the kitchen door. Both the leaves and flowers are edible, and the blooms double as a pollinator-friendly ornamental. Snip leaves all season for cooking.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring or early fall. Chives establish quickly and can be harvested lightly the first year.
How to Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch lightly. Divide clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.
Watering
First Year: Water deeply 1–2 times per week to establish the roots.
After Year One: Water during dry spells. Chives are fairly drought tolerant once established.
Drip Irrigation: A drip line provides steady moisture for the freshest leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the flowers edible?
Yes, both the leaves and the lavender flowers are edible and make a pretty, oniony garnish.
How do I harvest chives?
Snip leaves with scissors near the base any time during the season; they regrow quickly.
Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, it's a Zone 3 perennial, fully hardy statewide, returning every spring.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, the onion scent keeps deer and rabbits away.
You May Also Like
Pair chives with other culinary herbs and our ornamental alliums for a productive, pollinator-friendly kitchen garden.
How Many Chives Do I Need?
One clump fills a kitchen-garden spot; for an edible edging, space plants about 10–12 inches apart, and divide every few years to keep them vigorous:
| Edging run | Plants needed (11 in apart) |
|---|---|
| 2 ft | 2 |
| 4 ft | 4–5 |
| 6 ft | 6–7 |
| 10 ft | 10–11 |
Chives Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Returns early with a flush of slender, oniony leaves ready to snip.
- Summer: Lavender-pink pom-pom flowers (edible) open in early summer and draw bees; keep cutting leaves.
- Fall: Leaves stay usable until hard frost; a light trim tidies the clump.
- Winter: Fully dormant and bone-hardy (zone 3), returning every spring.
At a Glance
✔ Edible ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant
Plant It With
- Millenium Allium — an ornamental allium cousin that bees love.
- Summer Beauty Allium — a tidy, long-blooming ornamental onion.
- Windy City Allium — rosy-purple summer globes for the same sunny bed.
Are Chives Right for Your Yard?
They thrive in full sun to light shade on average, well-drained soil and ask almost nothing — perfect by the kitchen door, in a herb bed, or as a pollinator-friendly edging. Deer and rabbits leave them alone. Not a fit only in soggy, poorly drained ground.