Fauna
Flower

Garlic Chives

Allium tuberosum

Also known as Chinese Chives, Oriental Garlic, Asian Chives, Chinese Leek

Garlic chives form dense perennial clumps of flat, strap-like leaves distinct from the hollow, tubular foliage of common chives. In late summer, sturdy flower stalks rise above the greenery to display fragrant, star-shaped white blossoms arranged in loose umbels that attract a wide variety of native bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Widely cultivated for centuries across East Asia, plants readily spread by both rhizomatous rootstocks and prolific self-seeding, occasionally escaping gardens into disturbed grasslands and roadsides.

PerennialFloweringAromatic
Garlic Chives reference1 / 7
(c) Wolfgang Ahlmer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Wolfgang Ahlmer · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Onion Thrips
  • Allium Leafminer
  • Slugs
ThreatsOverharvesting in native wild populations, habitat conversion, and fungal rust
HabitatsAgricultural edges, grasslands, river valleys, disturbed open ground, and gardens
Life span5–10 years (perennial clump)
Classification
  1. OrderAsparagales
  2. FamilyAmaryllidaceae
  3. GenusAllium
  4. SpeciesAllium tuberosum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains organosulfoxides toxic to dogs and cats; safe for human culinary use.
Why it is dangerous
Contains disulfides and thiosulfates that damage red blood cells in dogs and cats, leading to hemolytic anemia and potential organ failure.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for flat, solid ribbon-like green leaves paired with upright stalks carrying star-shaped white blossoms smelling distinctly of mild garlic.
What to do
Keep ornamental plantings and harvested cuttings out of reach of household pets, and seek veterinary care if ingested.
Responsible observation
  • Flower Head Removal: Snip fading flower heads before seeds blacken and drop to prevent aggressive spread.
  • Pet Safety: Grow in raised beds or fenced borders away from curious dogs and cats.
  • Crush and Sniff: Bruise a leaf lightly to detect the characteristic blend of mild onion and garlic scent.
Related species
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