Allium tuberosum

Allium tuberosum, also known as garlic chives, is a wonderful wild plant that somewhat resembles chives.

It is native to East Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan, and has been widely cultivated worldwide for culinary, ornamental, and medicinal uses.

In late summer to early autumn, it produces umbrella-like clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers atop erect stems that can reach 30–60 cm in height.

The flowers are white and star-shaped, as well as fragrant. They attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The leaves emit a mild garlic scent when crushed.

Allium tuberosum forms fleshy, fibrous roots rather than large bulbs, distinguishing it from common garlic (Allium sativum) or Allium montanum. It spreads both by seed and by clump division, forming dense, self-renewing patches in the garden.

It is both hardy and drought-tolerant in summer.

It is ideal for a wild gardens or xeriscaping, as a low border for instance, but it is also magnificent (and delicious) in a container in the city.