Chinese Flowering Leek Seeds | Garlic Chives

Chinese flowering leek seeds, also known as garlic chives or Chinese chives, grow a perennial culinary herb with slender, flat green leaves, tender flowering stems, and star-like white flowers. Their delicate garlic-onion flavor suits stir-fries, dumplings, egg dishes, soups, and tempura. Keep a clump near the kitchen for fresh snippings, then enjoy the white flower clusters as the plants mature.

Choose your seed pack

• Packet: 200 seeds.
• 1/4 oz pack.
• 1 oz pack.
• 1/4 lb pack: 4 oz.
• 1 lb pack.

One cart quantity purchases one selected pack. Weight-based packs are sold by weight; seed counts vary by lot. This listing is for seeds to plant, not bulbs, live plants, or harvested herbs.

Plant details

• Botanical name: Allium tuberosum.
• Common names: garlic chives, Chinese chives, flowering Chinese leek.
• Habit: clump-forming perennial herb.
• Foliage: narrow, flat green leaves with a garlic-chive flavor.
• Flowers: white, star-like florets held in clusters.
• Typical foliage height: approximately 16 inches; flowering stems may rise above the leaves.
• Harvest: young leaves, tender unopened flower buds, and fresh florets.

Despite the common name, this is not the thick-stemmed culinary leek or round-leaved common chive. First leaf harvest may be possible around 70 days in favorable conditions, but establishment varies. Flowering often begins in the second growing season and should not be expected at the first leaf-harvest stage.

Sowing and transplanting

Choose full sun to light partial shade with fertile, well-drained soil. Direct sow in late spring or early summer when conditions are suitable, or start in pots for later transplanting. Adjust sowing dates to your local climate rather than relying on a fixed calendar.

Sow approximately 1/4 inch deep and keep the seedbed consistently moist without waterlogging. Once seedlings are established, thin or transplant into small clumps approximately 6–8 inches apart. If transplanting, allow seedlings to develop several leaves, approximately 5–6, and acclimate them gradually to outdoor conditions.

Watering and ongoing care

Water regularly during establishment and dry periods. Established clumps need good drainage; avoid saturated soil. Incorporate finished compost before planting and feed according to soil needs and fertilizer label directions.

Keep young plants free of weeds and give clumps time to establish before frequent cutting. Divide crowded, established clumps when needed and replant in prepared soil. Leaves may die back in cold weather; seasonal growth and winter survival depend on local conditions.

Growing in containers

Use a container with drainage holes and approximately 8–12 inches of soil depth. Fill with well-drained potting mix and allow room for clumps to expand. Provide good light and check moisture more often than for plants in the ground. Do not leave pots standing in water.

Harvesting leaves and flower buds

Once plants are established, cut leaves a little above the crown rather than cutting into it. Leave enough growth for recovery and allow regrowth between harvests. Snip tender flowering stems while buds are still closed for cooking, or pick freshly opened florets for garnishes.

Flowering and harvest seasons vary with climate, plant age, and protected versus outdoor growing. Remove unwanted flower heads before seed dispersal to limit self-sowing.

Kitchen use

Wash harvested herbs thoroughly before preparation. Add chopped leaves to dumpling fillings, eggs, soups, salads, and stir-fries. Tender bud stems can be steamed or stir-fried, while separated white florets add a mild garlic flavor to dips, potato salads, sauces, and other dishes.

Yellow garlic chives are produced by excluding light from established plants; they are not a separate color option in this listing. Blanching weakens plants, so it is best reserved for strong, established clumps rather than newly grown seedlings.

Storage and safety

Refrigerate harvested leaves and stems in a clean container or bag and use promptly. Store unused seeds sealed in a cool, dry, dark place.

Keep alliums away from dogs and cats: leaves, flowers, and other plant parts can be toxic to pets if eaten. Use only correctly identified plants grown with treatments suitable for edible crops.