| Description | Forescate Chives (Allium schoenoprasum Forescate) is a vigorous taller cultivar of the old fashion Chives. Chives is a multipurpose purpose plant grown for its foliage, flowers, and culinary uses. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (AL-ee-um)(skee-no-PRAY-zum) |
| Plant Type | Perennials Hardy, Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizoms, etc., Edibles Vegetables |
| Hardiness Zone | (3)-9 |
| Sunlight | prefers full sun, tolerates partial shade in hotter climates, low light areas will cause the plant to flop |
| Moisture | average |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Flowers | rose red globular flowers, borne on thin wiry scapes, florets can be sprinkled on salads to add a mild onion taste |
| Leaves | dense tuft of dark green hollow cylindrical leaves, leaves can be cut off and used to add a mild onion taste to many food dishes |
| Stems | small bulbs at the base of the leaves |
| Dimensions | 16-18" tall x 6-12 |
| Maintenance | dead head to prevent reseeding, division every few years to maintain vigor |
| Propagation | division, will not come true from seeds |
| Cultivar Origin | The species Chives were recorded in China over 4,000 years ago |
| Misc Facts | Chives are reported to be a deterrent to many insects and have many folk medicinal uses such as stimulating appetite, promoting digestion, etc. The species name schoenoprasum means a rush-like leak. They are derived from the Greek words schoinus, rush, and parson, leek. The taste is from the pungent volatile oil rich in sulfur. AKA: Giant Flowered Chives, Forescate Chives |
| Author's Notes | I have grown chives for many years. They are easy to grow, and nothing is better than fresh chives in potato salad. |
| Notes & Reference | #44-The Complete Book of Herbs (Lesley Bremness), #207-Alliums "The Ornamental Onion" (Dilys Davies) |
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