Scientific Name:
Allium schoenoprasum
Pronunciation:
AL-ee-um skee-no-PRAY-zum
Common Name:
chives
Family Name:
Amaryllidaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Bulbs 1-3cm x 5-9mm wide; leaves alternate (just 1-2 two), linear, most 30-45(-60)cm long x 2-7mm wide, hollow and round in c.s., onion scented; umbels 2-3cm wide, florets 30-50, each 8-12mm wide, tepals erect, pale purple to deep lilac to pinkish when dry (white cvs.), pedicels 2-6mm, peduncles 20-50cm long x 3-5mm wide.
Habit:
Spreading, Stiffly upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe, U.S. - central, U.S. - northeast, U.S. - northwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Attract butterflies, Container planting, Perennial border, Rock garden
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Distinctive smell
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Linear, Other
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Umbel, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Purple
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Additional Info:
6 tepals
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown (black seeds)
Fruiting Time:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Bulbs, Rhizomes
Propagation:
Seed, Division - above ground parts, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Mildew, Root rot, Rust, Thrips (Pest resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- HORT 1193/1293
- HORT 2355
Location(s):
- (GNH) GreeNHouse
- (GRB) GRass Bed
- (GRBE) GRass Bed East
- (WDH) Wark-Dumais House : rooftop garden