Chives are a popular herb used in many culinary dishes. With their mild onion-garlic flavor, they add a punch of flavor to soups, salads, savory baked goods and more. But did you know that chives also produce beautiful purple flowers?
In this complete guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about chives and their gorgeous blooms.
Chives, scientifically known as Allium schoenoprasum, are a species of flowering plants in the Amaryllidaceae family. They are native to Europe, Asia and North America.
These herbs are perennial, meaning they come back year after year. The leaves are long, thin and hollow with a delicate onion-garlic taste.
In the garden, chives grow in clumps or clusters, reaching 12-18 inches in height. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Chives are low maintenance, hardy plants that can withstand cold winters.
They are popularly used fresh dried or freeze-dried to add flavor to various dishes. Common uses for chives include
- Garnish for soups, salads, baked potatoes
- Mixed into omelets, quiches, scrambled eggs
- Stirred into dips, compound butters, sauces
- Baked into savory breads, biscuits, scones
- Sprinkled on pizza, pasta, fish
But the culinary uses of chives extend beyond just the leaves. The flowers are edible too!
Do Chives Have Flowers?
Yes, chives do produce flowers! In late spring to early summer, chives send up round flower buds on straight, slender stalks These buds blossom into beautiful globes of pale to deep purple flowers
Each chive flower head contains 10 to 30 tiny florets clustered together. The florets have a star shape, with six pointy tepals extending from the center.
Chive flowers grow up to 2 inches in diameter. They add a pop of color and delicate beauty to any herb garden.
What Do Chive Flowers Look Like?
Chive flowers have a distinctive appearance. Here are some key features:
- Round flower head composed of many small, star-shaped florets
- PURPLE color ranging from pale to deep purple
- Bulbous shape, almost like a pom pom
- Grow on straight green stalks 12-18 inches tall
- Clustered in groups at the top of hollow chive leaves
- Delicate texture with thin petals
- Mild onion-garlic fragrance
The vibrant purple hue of chive blooms creates a striking contrast against the green chive foliage and grassy landscape.
When Do Chives Bloom?
Chives typically bloom in mid to late spring or early summer. The exact blooming period depends on your climate:
- In warmer zones like 9-10, chives may begin flowering as early as April.
- In cooler zones like 3-5, flowering usually starts in May or June.
Established chive plants can bloom for 4-6 weeks. Each flower lasts around 7-10 days before fading. Deadheading or cutting away spent blooms encourages more flowers.
The blooming stage is relatively short lived. So if you want to enjoy the ornamental flowers, be sure to plant chives in your garden! Purchasing fresh cut flowers does not provide the same long-lasting show.
Do All Chive Varieties Flower?
There are a few different varieties of chives to choose from. Some have purple blooms while others produce white flowers.
Here are some of the most common flowering chive varieties:
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Common chives – Deep purple globes on 12-18 inch stems. Most popular type.
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Garlic chives – White star-shaped flowers with garlic scent. Grows 18-24 inches.
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Giant Siberian chives – Large purple pom poms on stalks up to 5 feet tall!
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Corsican chives – Dense purple flower heads on short 4-6 inch stems.
What Do Chive Flowers Taste Like?
Chive blooms have a milder, more delicate flavor compared to the leaves. They taste like a sweeter, mellower version of chives. The onion-garlic kick is much more subdued.
Some describe the flavor as slightly herbal or grassy, with floral sweet notes. The taste is never overpowering.
Overall, chive flowers offer just a hint of that signature chive flavor. Their petals add a fun, soft texture that contrasts the crunch of the stalks and leaves.
Are Chive Flowers Edible?
Yes, chive flowers are completely edible! Both the florets and flower stems can be eaten.
The entire flower head can be separated into individual florets by pulling them apart with your fingers. They make a lovely garnish.
You can also use chive blooms to make flavored vinegars, oils, butters and spreads. The possibilities are endless!
Here are some of the most popular ways to use chive blossoms:
- Garnish for salads, soups, pasta, vegetables
- Mixed into dips, herb butters, cheese spreads
- Infused in vinegar, olive oil, honey
- Omelets, frittatas, scrambled eggs
- Stir fries, pasta, pizza, fish
- Herbal teas, lemonades, cocktails
So don’t be afraid to get creative with chive flowers in your recipes!
How To Harvest Chive Flowers
If you’re lucky enough to have chives in your herb garden, here are some tips for harvesting the flowers:
- Use clean, sharp scissors or garden shears
- Snip the flowers just below the flower head
- Choose fully opened, vibrantly colored blooms
- Harvest in early morning after the dew has evaporated
- Gently wash and air dry or pat dry with paper towels
- Use immediately or store properly (see next section)
Avoid crushing or damaging the delicate petals. Handle the blossoms gently to preserve their shape.
How To Store Chive Flowers
To extend the shelf life of fresh chive flowers:
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Place them loosely in a paper bag or plastic container LINED with paper towel. Do not cram them in too tightly.
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Store the container in the refrigerator crisper drawer.
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Use within 5-7 days for best quality. The flowers will slowly wither and fade.
Freezing is not recommended, as this causes the florets to stick together in a clump. Dried chive flowers also lose their delicate texture.
Enjoy these fleeting blooms as soon as possible after harvesting!
Do Chive Flowers Attract Bees?
The nectar-rich blossoms of chives are highly attractive to pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
As these beneficial insects fly from flower to flower sipping nectar, they also transfer pollen between the blooms. This allows the chive plant to produce seeds and continue its lifecycle.
So by planting chives in your garden, you support precious pollinator populations. That’s a win-win!
How To Grow Chives For Flowers
If you don’t already have chives, here are some quick tips for growing them in your herb garden:
- Plant in full sun (at least 6 hours daily)
- Well-drained soil is essential
- Space plants 6-8 inches apart
- Cut leaves regularly to promote growth
- Water when top 1-2 inches of soil are dry
- Apply general purpose fertilizer monthly
- Mulch surrounding soil to retain moisture
- Dig and divide overcrowded plants every 2-3 years
With the proper care, you’ll be rewarded with an abundant chive harvest and gorgeous purple blooms!
Do Chives Bloom More Than Once?
In ideal growing conditions, chives can produce multiple flowering cycles in one season. Each chive plant may bloom 2-3 times if properly cared for. Here are some tips to encourage repeated flowering:
- Consistent watering and fertilizing
- Pruning or cutting chive leaves frequently
- Deadheading spent blooms to stimulate new buds
- Dividing very mature, overcrowded plants
- Providing full sun and good drainage
So while individual chive blooms are fleeting, you can enjoy multiple floral shows each year with a bit of effort.
Should You Remove Chive Flowers?
This depends on whether you prioritize leaf harvest or flowers. Here are the pros and cons:
Removing Flowers:
- Promotes more leaf growth
- Prevents the plant from diverting energy to seeds
- Can increase yield of leaves for culinary use
Keeping Flowers:
- Provides ornamental value to garden
- Attracts beneficial pollinators
- Allows seed production for future propagation
- Provides edible blooms to use in recipes
Cooking With Chive Blossoms
The flowers are sold with the chives, so they need to be cut off of the stems. This is easy to do with kitchen shears or scissors. Before using the chive blossoms, give them a good rinse in water to get rid of any bugs. Putting the blossoms under cold water several times is a good way to be sure they are bug-free. The blossoms should be dried gently with a paper towel or allowed to air-dry before using.
The flowers can either be kept whole or separated into florets. The florets will easily release when pulled away from the flower head using your fingers. Some of the florets will fall off along with a small stem. This stem is edible and makes the flower look better.
What Do They Taste Like?
Chive blossoms taste mostly of onion and garlic, with a hint of the strong flavor of chives themselves. They also have some earthy undertones. The mild flavor means they can be added to a dish and not overwhelm the other ingredients.
Should I Let Chives Flower? – A Full Answer
FAQ
Can you eat chives with purple flowers?
Should I cut the purple flowers off my chives?
Can you still use chives after they flower?
What are the purple buds on chives?
Do Chives have purple flowers?
Common chives have beautiful little purple flowers, while garlic chives make white blossoms. The onion chives have tubular leaves and the garlic ones have flat leaves. How do you grow chives? Chives can be grown outdoors, in your kitchen garden, or indoors in a pot.
Are purple chives edible?
The purple flowers of chives also have culinary uses. They are edible and can be used as a flavorful ingredient in various dishes. The flowers have a milder onion flavor compared to the chive leaves, making them a popular addition to salads, omelets, and herb butters.
Do onion chives have white flowers?
Onion chives or common chives (Allium schoenoprasum, which have thin, tubular stems) have pink or purple flowers, while garlic chives (Allium tuberosum, which have wide, flattened stems) have white flowers—aside from color and bloom time, their blossoms are virtually the same.
What do chives look like?
Chives come in various varieties with white, purple, pink, or red flowers. Garlic Chives, also known as Chinese chives, look similar to common chives but their leaves are greener, flatter, and grow up to about 20 inches in height. The leaves of Garlic Chives have a mild garlic flavor and more intense bulbs.
What do purple chive flowers taste like?
The purple petals are typically more tender and flavorful at this stage. You can pluck the flowers from the top of the plant, being careful not to damage the stem or leaves. Chive flowers can be used whole or the individual petals can be separated and used as a garnish.
When do chive chives Bloom?
You’ll usually see onion chive flowers in late spring to early summer, while garlic chive flowers appear in late summer. Once chives start to bloom, you can encourage more growth by continually harvesting small sections at a time or cutting them back completely, like you’re giving your plants a haircut.