My chives are blooming! It looks like a bright purple creek is running through the middle of my kitchen garden. The tufts are huge and some of the bulbs are as large as my little finger! Try frying them up in some olive oil and eat them as a side dish. Yum!
But what about the flowers then? Should you really let your chives bolt? Well, theres really no harm in letting your chives bloom, but your harvest might get smaller if you do. Most plants will produce smaller leaves when there are flowers too. The flower stalk is usually also hard and you cant eat it.
Despite this, Im not sorry about letting my chives bloom. The flowers are only there for a short while and I intend to enjoy them while I can.
Do Chives Have Purple Flowers? A Complete GuideChives are a beloved culinary herb but did you know they also produce beautiful purple blooms? In this complete guide we’ll explore everything you need to know about chives and their gorgeous flowers.
What Are Chives?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 like soups, salads, savory baked goods and more. But the culinary uses of chives extend beyond just the leaves – the flowers are edible too!
Do Chives Have Flowers?
Yes, chives produce beautiful flowers! In late spring to early summer, chives send up round flower buds on straight, slender stalks. These buds blossom into gorgeous 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:
-
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:
-
Common chives – Deep purple globes on 12-18 inch stems. Most popular type.
-
Garlic chives – White star-shaped flowers with garlic scent. Grows 18-24 inches.
-
Giant Siberian chives – Large purple pom poms on stalks up to 5 feet tall!
-
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!
Popular ways to use chive blossoms include:
-
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
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
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:
-
Place loosely in a paper bag or plastic container lined with paper towel. Don’t cram them in too tightly.
-
Store the container in the refrigerator crisper drawer.
-
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
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:
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
Trim your chives for new growth
The best way to get both flowers and a good harvest is to trim the plant down. Do this when the first flower buds are just developing. Trim half the tuft like in the picture above and leave the rest. This way, you get the best of two worlds. One half of the tuft will start developing flowers and the other, trimmed half will produce a nice fresh harvest of chives.
I chose to cut the plants along the edge that faces the pathway and decided to let the flowers face the other way. Now, I can see the beautiful flowers from my living room window and I dont even notice that the plants have been trimmed.
I usually get a few baskets full of plant parts after trimming them. Right now, Im using all the plant material from growing chives for mulch in the garden beds. The same goes for the chives. Put the material in a garden bed with larger sturdier plants, for example potatoes. Check out this clip to learn how to use mulch in your garden: Time to start mulching!
Remember that the chives will keep blooming as mulch too. A few seeds might start to germinate to but they usually dont develop plants. I think its so beautiful, the bright purple flowers look like jewels on the ground!
Three Ways to use Chives and Chive Blossoms from the Garden
FAQ
Should I cut the purple flowers off my chives?
Yes, you should cut off the purple flowers on your chives.
Can you eat chives with the purple flower?
Chive blossoms aren’t just whimsical pretty purple pom-poms… they’re edible, too! You can sprinkle them onto salads or soups as a tasty garnish, or use them to infuse plain white vinegar with bright pink colour and a subtle chive flavour.
What are the purple flowers on my chives?
Yes, chive plants commonly produce purple flowers, particularly in late spring and early summer.
Is it okay to eat chives when they are flowering?
Chive Blossoms
The part of the plant we are most familiar with are the green leaves and the flowers will grow on a separate stem. If you wish to eat these lovely little purple flowers, just snip them off the stem because the stem isn’t edible. You can harvest the leaves and flowers as and when you want to use them.