Pollinator plant

Wild chives

Allium schoenoprasum

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Common names

15 names

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

English
Dutch
  • Bieslook[2]
  • Snijlook
French
  • Ciboulette[2]
  • Ciboulette sauvage
  • Civette[2]
German
  • Schnitt-Lauch[2]
  • Schnittlauch[2]
Italian
  • erba cipollina[2]
Portuguese
Spanish

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

[1] Allium schoenoprasum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Wild Chives — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Chives — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Flowering Onion — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Allium schoenoprasum.
[2] Allium schoenoprasum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • wild chives — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • bieslook — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Chives — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Schnitt-Lauch — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Schnittlauch — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Cebollino — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Cebollín — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Ciboulette — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Civette — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • erba cipollina — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • cebolinha — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
  • Cebolinho — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 59254; Allium schoenoprasum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Allium schoenoprasum is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Amaryllidaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.43 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Temperate Northern Hemisphere

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Allium species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable. Plants must be allowed to flower.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown

Solitary wild bees

High suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous, Vegetable
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.30 m high × 0.30 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-11
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Root
Functions
Fungicide, Repellent, Pollinator plant
Edibility
5 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

The leaves of this plant can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried for later use. They have a mild onion aroma and pair well in salads or as a flavoring in soups. The leaves are usually available from late winter to early the following winter, especially when the plant grows in a warm and sheltered spot. They are a good source of sulfur and iron. The bulbs are small, usually no larger than 10 mm in diameter, and can be harvested along with the leaves, after which they are used as spring onions due to their mild onion flavor. The flowers can be used as a garnish in salads. It is important to mention that the flowers of this species are quite dry and less desirable than those of many other species.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Allium schoenoprasum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1773007; ID 5TX7G; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1773007; ID 5TX7G; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Allium schoenoprasum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Allium species (top 427 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Allium species (top 592 pt)

    Source checked on .