Wild Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Amaryllidaceae
Genus:
Allium
Species:
Allium schoenoprasum

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Geophyte
Height:
1-2 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, aug
Bloom Colors:
pink, purple
Food Forest:
Plant contains edible parts

Native Range

United States: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers fertile soil with good organic content

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: 5 month outdoor cold, moist stratification of fresh seeds. Germination characteristics vary according to fresh seeds or seeds dry stored for six months.

Establishment: Seeds germinate equally well in light or dark. Collect mature capsules when they begin to split and turn light tan and papery. Seeds are black at maturity. Capsules are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed.

Source: npn.rngr.net