Allium tuberosum (Chinese chives)

Botanical name

Allium tuberosum

Other names

Chinese chives, Garlic chives, Oriental garlic, Fragrant-flowered garlic

Genus

Allium Allium

Species

A. tuberosum - A. tuberosum is a vigorous, clump-forming, bulbous perennial with linear, keeled, edible, mid-green leaves and erect stems bearing umbels of fragrant, star-shaped, white flowers from summer into autumn.

Native to

China, Himalayas

Foliage

Deciduous

Fragrance

Foliage has a strong garlic fragrance

Habit

Erect

---

Colour

Flower

White in Summer; White in Autumn

Foliage

Grey-green in Summer

---

How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Pest free, may suffer from slugs on new growth.

Specific diseases

Onion rot , Downy mildew

General care

Pruning

No pruning required.

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

---

Monthly care advice

---

Where to grow

Allium tuberosum (Chinese chives) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Architectural, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Flower Arranging, Gravel

Cultivation

Plant in autumn, preferably in fertile, moist or moist but well-drained loam in sun. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. May be evergreen in warmer climates.

Soil type

Loamy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Allium tuberosum (Chinese chives)

Common pest name

allium leaf miner

Scientific pest name

Phytomyza gymnostoma

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Pest of Allium already present in UK and spreading; previous consultation supported awareness raising only; industry should prepare for the event of findings in commercial crops.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Allium tuberosum (Chinese chives)

Common pest name

Asain cotton leafworm; Cluster caterpillar; Fall armyworm; Rice cutworm; Taro caterpiller; Tobacco budworm; Tobacco caterpillar; Tobacco cutworm; Tobacco leaf caterpillar

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera litura

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Allium tuberosum (Chinese chives)

Common pest name

African cottom leafworm; Cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton leafworm; Egyptian cotton worm; Mediterranean climbing cutworm; Meditteranea Brocade; Tobacco cutworm

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera littoralis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/