Siberian chive
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. schoenoprasum
Family: Amaryllidaceae
What it is like
An onion family plant. It is a herb. It grows 20-50 cm high. The leaves sheath the base. The bulb is oblong. The leaves are nearly round and hollow. The flowers are purple or pink and small. They are lily shaped and occur as several together is a tight erect cluster at the top of the stem. The fruit is a dry, few-seeded capsule.
There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae. Now just Allium schoenoprasum
Where it is found
It grows naturally in low ground and depressions in grassland. It is a temperate plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, Asia, Australia, Britain, Central America, Europe, Finland, Haiti, Iraq, Japan, Middle East, North America, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovenia, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, West Indies
How it is used for food
The leaves and bulbs are pickled and also used for flavouring.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, root, bulb
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Drobnjak, Giant chives, Purple wild onion