Garlic chives
Allium tuberosum
Flat, grass-like leaves with a garlic scent and clusters of white star flowers.
Find its rhythm
Light
Sun for much of the day
Water
Check containers often. Keep roots supplied with moisture without leaving the pot standing in water. Start with a soil check every 3 days and adjust for your conditions.
Care through the seasons
Soil & drainage
Use a draining container mix. Outdoor beds need drainage as well.
Climate
Match planting time to your local season and the plant’s frost tolerance.
Seasonal care
Annual herbs may flower and finish their life cycle; consider succession planting.
Feeding
Feed modestly during growth according to the label and growing medium.
Pruning
Trim lightly to encourage branching where suitable; do not remove all healthy growth.
Propagation
Division
Hardiness
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Watch for
Bolting · Dry container roots · Aphids
Care-group starting guidance; adapt to your cultivar and local climate.
Pet & child safety
Not in the ASPCA list — treat it as unsafe until you know more
Moderately toxic to children (California Poison Control)
Moderate toxicity: eating it is expected to cause nausea and vomiting, but it is not expected to be life-threatening.
Skin irritant: touching the sap or leaves can cause redness, itching, a rash or blisters.
California Poison Control lists the genus Allium as a whole, not this species by name.
Keep plants out of reach of children and pets. Never eat a plant based on an app.
If any is eaten: Call your local poison control centre or vet. In the US: Poison Control 1-800-222-1222; ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply).
Sources checked 10 Nov 2026. Lists change, so check the source before relying on it.