With their intense , Allium cepa - like smell and flavor , wild chives ( * genus Allium schoeneprasum * ) are easily identified throughout the United States . Although other plant may look standardized , barbaric chives ' folio , growing substance abuse and flavor set them apart from standardised herb . Wild chives add together a luscious Allium cepa spirit to any dish , so they ’re deserving learning to identify .

With their intense , onion - like olfactory property and flavor , wild chives ( Allium schoeneprasum ) are easy identify throughout the United States . Although other plant life may look interchangeable , wild schnittlaugh ' leaves , grow habit and flavor set them asunder from interchangeable herbs . barbaric chives add a delicious onion flavor to any dish , so they ’re worth learning to discover .

Telltale Leaves

To spot wild chives , observe their grow habit . Look for dense clumps that stand out from the surrounding pasturage . Wild chives grow taller than grass and have thicker leaves . Examine the foliage and look for wild chives ' stylemark : dark green , thin , cylindrical , empty leaves that taper to a period at the top . at long last , estimate their height . dotty chives typically grow to a summit of 6 to 10 inches .

Distinctive Flowers

canvass the flowers and see for distinctive , small , pale purple flowers arrange in tightly packed bunch . untamed chive flowers develop from stalk that contrive from the same point . Be on the lookout for peak with a rose-colored lavender color in former May and June , when they look similar to red clover ( genus Trifolium pratense ) , which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 9 . Also seem for petals more or less 1/2 column inch long with blueish purple anthers inside the stamen , where pollen is produced .

Prime Locations

unwarranted chives can be found in Europe , Asia and North America as well as in icy climates up to 70 degree Frederick North latitude and in hilly regions at lower latitude . They are native to Canada and Alaska and can be found throughout the lower 48 United States . These repeated herbs thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9 . Look for them in areas contiguous to point where chive are cultivated , such as gardens or farms . Find them in area with full sunshine and well - enfeeble soil .

Distinguishing Wild Chives

There are manyAlliumspecies , including giant Siberian chives ( Allium ledebourianum ) , garlic and Taiwanese schnittlaugh ( Allium tuberosum ) , which grow in the same USDA plant hardiness zones . One well-situated way to key out wild chive from alike plants is to determine the flora to see if it has a bulb . Unlike otherAlliumvarieties that produce little lightbulb and have space between efflorescence , chives do not have a bulb . Wild chives olfactory perception like Allium cepa , while garlic chive smell like Allium sativum . in conclusion , wild chives and jumbo Siberian chives have tubular leaves while garlic and Siberian garlic schnittlaugh have flat leaves .

Toxicity Warning

If possible , get permission before cull cive you find out in the natural state to see to it you’re able to legally remove them from the area . In addition , definitively key out the plant as chives before misrepresent with or eating it . The undecomposed way to do this is to smell out it . If the plant does not smell like onion , it is not meant to be eaten and could be poisonous .

References

Allium schoenoprasum