Chives
Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers. Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion, and Chinese onion.
| Chives | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Species: | A. schoenoprasum |
| Binomial name | |
| Allium schoenoprasum | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Synonymy
| |
Cut chive leaves as used for preparing food | |
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 126 kJ (30 kcal) |
4.35 g | |
| Sugars | 1.85 g |
| Dietary fiber | 2.5 g |
0.73 g | |
3.27 g | |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Vitamin A equiv. | 27% 218 μg24% 2612 μg323 μg |
| Thiamine (B1) | 7% 0.078 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 10% 0.115 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 4% 0.647 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 6% 0.324 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 11% 0.138 mg |
| Folate (B9) | 26% 105 μg |
| Vitamin C | 70% 58.1 mg |
| Vitamin E | 1% 0.21 mg |
| Vitamin K | 203% 212.7 μg |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 9% 92 mg |
| Iron | 12% 1.6 mg |
| Magnesium | 12% 42 mg |
| Manganese | 18% 0.373 mg |
| Phosphorus | 8% 58 mg |
| Potassium | 10% 296 mg |
| Zinc | 6% 0.56 mg |
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| †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA FoodData Central | |
A perennial plant, it is widespread in nature across much of Europe, Asia, and North America.
A. schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.
Chives are a commonly used herb and can be found in grocery stores or grown in home gardens. In culinary use, the green stalks (scapes) and the unopened, immature flower buds are diced and used as an ingredient for omelettes, fish, potatoes, soups, and many other dishes. The edible flowers can be used in salads. Chives have insect-repelling properties that can be used in gardens to control pests.
The plant provides a great deal of nectar for pollinators. It was rated in the top 10 for most nectar production (nectar per unit cover per year) in a UK plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.