When it arrives
Your 3-inch plug
It arrives actively growing. Water it the day it comes, let it rest in bright shade for 2–3 days, then harden it off for about a week before planting. Set the top of the root ball level with the soil — never deeper.
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Chives grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 18.0 in
- Mature spread
- 17.0 in
- Bloom
- Late-May – peak Early-June
- Fragrance
- Light
- Deer
- Resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Chives Plants & Plugs
Ornamental Onion · Allium schoenoprasum
Give these clump-forming summer alliums full sun and well-drained soil. Once settled they shrug off drought, heat, deer and rabbits and bloom in mid to late summer.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Full sunLight
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Low waterFast drainage
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pH 6.0–7.5Soil
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Zones 4a–8bHardiness
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18″ tall17″ wide
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ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
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Toxic to petsPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Chives Plants & Plugs will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–8b
Spring or early fall, at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Your year with Chives Plants & Plugs
JFMAMJJASOND
When it arrives
Your potted plant
It arrives growing in its pot. Water on arrival and let it settle in light shade for 2–3 days. Loosen any circling roots and plant with the top of the root ball level with the soil.
When to plant
Spring or early fall, at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
How deep
Set the clump so the tops of the small bulbs sit just below the soil surface and the leaf bases are at soil level. Spread the roots downward; don't bury the foliage.
Spacing
12–18 inches apart for most; larger types up to 24 inches.
Soil
Sandy, loam or gravelly; clay if amended · pH 6.0–7.5
Fix-it tip: Wet soil rots the bulbs. In clay, work in compost and plant on a slight mound or in a raised bed so water never sits around the clump.
Sun
Full sun (tolerates light part shade).
Less than 6 hours of sun gives floppier foliage and fewer, smaller flower globes.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
Grassy green tufts come up in mid-spring (April in Michigan). Flower stems follow in early summer and bloom July to September depending on variety. Foliage that yellows a bit in late fall is normal.
Spring
Clear old foliage; light compost if soil is poor.
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Summer
Enjoy blooms; deadhead if you don't want seedlings.
Fall
Plant or divide; leave seed heads if you like the look.
Winter
No care needed; just keep the spot from staying soggy.
Watering
First season: Water deeply once a week the first season when rain is short, letting the top inch dry between waterings.
After that: Drought tolerant. Water only in long dry spells.
Feeding
Little needed. A light layer of compost in spring is plenty; rich soil or heavy feeding makes floppy foliage.
Pruning & deadheading
Deadhead after bloom if you don't want seedlings (or leave the seed heads for winter interest). Cut foliage to the ground in late fall or early spring.
Dividing
Every 3–4 years when the center thins or blooms drop off. Lift the clump in spring or early fall and pull apart into sections of several bulbs.
Winter
Fully hardy across most of the Midwest (most are rated to zone 4 or 5). No mulch needed; avoid heavy wet mulch over the crown.
Summer heat
Thrives in heat and humidity. Foliage stays tidy, unlike spring-blooming giant alliums whose leaves die early.
Few or no flowers
Likely cause: Too much shade or an overcrowded clump
What to do: Move to full sun or divide the clump in spring.
Plant sprawls open in the middle
Likely cause: Rich soil, overwatering or shade
What to do: Stop feeding, water less, and divide if older than 3–4 years.
Mushy, yellow leaf bases
Likely cause: Bulb rot from poor drainage
What to do: Lift, discard soft bulbs, and replant healthy pieces in a raised or gritty spot.
Seedlings popping up nearby
Likely cause: Seed dropped from spent flowers
What to do: Deadhead right after bloom; pull seedlings while small.
Too wet or too dry?
Yellow, mushy leaf bases or soft bulbs mean too wet. Crispy leaf tips in midsummer drought are normal and harmless.
Watch for
- Bulb rot in wet soil
- Onion thrips (silvery streaks on leaves)
- Occasional rust or leaf spot in humid weather
Pets & wildlife
ASPCA lists onions and other Allium as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (red blood cell damage, vomiting, weakness). Keep pets from chewing the bulbs and leaves.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Use a gritty, fast-draining mix and a pot with drainage holes. In cold areas, move the pot to an unheated garage for winter.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and a cold winter rest outdoors.
Winter chill
Best after a cold winter
A normal outdoor winter keeps clumps vigorous and flowering well.
Growing it on
3-inch plug
1-gallon pot once roots circle the plug
Garden bed or a 2 gallon pot
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Potted plant
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Garden bed or a pot at least 2 gallon
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
An easy partner: same full sun, lean well-drained soil and dry summers. Their globe flowers bloom just as lavender finishes, and both are pollinator magnets.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
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