Plant Details

Allium tuberosum

Garlic chives

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Common names

43 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese Chives[1]
  • Garlic chives[1]
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Chinese bieslook[1]
  • Knoflookbieslook
French
  • Ciboule de Chine[1]
  • Ciboulette de Chine
Bunun
Chinese (Simplified)
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • česnek hlíznatý[1]
Estonian
Finnish
  • kiinansipuli[1]
German
  • Knoblauch-Schnittlauch[1]
Hebrew
  • עירית שומית[1]
  • שומית[1]
Hungarian
  • Kínai Metélőhagyma[1]
Italian
  • aglio tuberoso[1]
Japanese
Korean
Palauan
Polish
  • Czosnek bulwiasty[1]
Portuguese
  • Alho-chinês[1]
  • Alho-japonês[1]
  • Alho-nirá[1]
+7 more namesShow fewer names
  • Cebola-nirá[1]
  • Cebolinha-alho[1]
  • Cebolinha-chinesa[1]
  • Cebolinha-nirá[1]
  • Cebolinho-chinês[1]
  • Lira[1]
  • Nirá[1]
Russian
  • Лук ветвистый[1]
  • Лук клубневой[1]
Slovak
  • cesnak hľuznatý[1]
Swedish
  • kinesisk gräslök[1]
Thai
  • กุยช่าย[1]
Ukrainian
  • Цибуля китайська[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Allium tuberosum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Garlic Chives — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Лук клубневой — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Chinese Chives — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 韭 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 韭 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • ニラ — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • mugullauk — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • česnek hlíznatý — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • kinesisk gräslök — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Лук ветвистый — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 부추 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • tangavaz — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • aglio tuberoso — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 韭菜 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Nira — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Knoblauch-Schnittlauch — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • กุยช่าย — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Ciboule de Chine — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Nirá — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Cebolinha-nirá — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Alho-nirá — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Cebolinho-chinês — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Lira — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Alho-japonês — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Cebola-nirá — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Alho-chinês — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Cebolinha-chinesa — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 韭菜 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Cebolinha-alho — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Цибуля китайська — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • שומית — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • עירית שומית — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Chinese bieslook — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Czosnek bulwiasty — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • Kínai Metélőhagyma — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • kiinansipuli — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • cesnak hľuznatý — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 韮菜 — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 韭黄 — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 정구지 — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.
  • 솔 — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 122343; Allium tuberosum.

General information

Scientific name: Allium tuberosum
Accepted name (Kew): Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Amaryllidaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Allium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Garlic chives
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.30 m
Spread: 0.3–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [2]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Clumping, Erect, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
High Organic Matter
Sources [2]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Root, Oil
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Oil, Repellent

Description

Leaves - They can be eaten raw or cooked and have a mild flavor reminiscent of a mix of garlic and chives. They are tasty in salads, but the flavor diminishes with prolonged cooking. The leaves are available from early spring to late autumn. They contain about 2.6% protein, 0.6% fat, 2.4% carbohydrates, and 0.95% ash, as well as some vitamin A, B1, and C. The small bulbs, approximately 10 mm in diameter, grow in clusters on a short rhizome. Flowers and flower buds - can be eaten both raw and cooked and make a delicious garnish for autumn salads. Root - is edible and can be consumed both raw and cooked. Edible oil is also extracted from the seeds.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/11

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1169904; name ID 294888; Allium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1172491; name ID 296861; Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Allium tuberosum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: SpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .