We show new and old chive varieties, which differ in yield, plant height, taste and thickness of the tubes.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is one of the most popular kitchen herbs and belongs to the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). The different types of chives differ mainly in growth height, taste and tube size. If you are wondering where the herbaceous plant came from or how to harvest and propagate it properly, read our profile on chives.
Small chives
Small chive varieties are usually particularly suitable for growing in pots or balcony boxes. There are a large number of different small cultivars. We have summarized some for you below:
- 'Miro': A popular and widespread variety because of its fine aroma, which is mainly used as a kitchen herb. The 'Miro' chive has fine tubes and, at 20 to 30 cm, grows smaller than other varieties, but very quickly.
- 'Twiggy': A fine-tubed, yet robust and fast-growing variety. 'Twiggy' is the most common short cultivar available in garden centres. The strong, dark green tubes grow between 20 and 30 cm high, but do not store well and should therefore be eaten fresh.
- 'Forescate': The coarse tubes of the 'Forescate' chive are particularly suitable as a decoration for dishes and provide high yields thanks to their rapid growth. The variety only grows to a height of around 25 to 35 cm and forms strong, pink to burgundy-red flowers and shimmering turquoise leaves. The plant is also a popular ornament for flower beds.
- 'Middleman': A very fine-tubed, matt green variety with extremely fast growth. It has a pleasantly aromatic and spicy taste and is very well suited for cultivation in pots or window boxes. -The 'Middleman' chives grow to a height of about 20 to 30 cm.
- ‘ErbaCipollina': A classic Italian variety that is often used as a culinary herb there because of its intense aroma. It is not hardy and should therefore only be cultivated once a year. The fine tubular leaves are wide and intensely dark green. 'Erba Cipollina' only grows to a height of around 10 to 15 cm and is therefore particularly suitable as a pot plant.
- 'Staro': A large-tubed, common chive with a height of 20 to 30 cm, which is very well suited for outdoor cultivation due to its vigorous root growth. The thick, stable stalks formed by 'Staro' chives can be frozen very well and thus preserved.
- 'Elbe': Due to its robust growth and high yields, it is one of the most popular varieties in our latitudes and forms coarse, approximately 20 to 25 cm long tubes. The white flowers of the 'Elbe' chives have a high ornamental value before they first bloom because of their pink bracts and are ideal as a decoration for all kinds of dishes.
Large chives
Tall-growing chive varieties are well suited for outdoor cultivation, as they are usually more robust than small ones. But some can also be cultivated in a pot without any problems. We introduce you to a few of the numerous large chive varieties:
- 'Polyvit': A fine-tubed variety that can grow up to 40 cm tall. The delicate, vigorous culms are dark green in color and have a spicy taste. 'Polyvit' is suitable for growing in pots and can be stored well by freezing after harvest.
- 'Schmitt': The 'Schmitt' variety is characterized by a special, unique spice note. The medium-sized tubes grow up to 60 cm high in good conditions and produce strong purple flowers. 'Schmitt' can be grown in a pot because the plant regenerates quickly after harvest.
- 'Grolau': This newly bred variety from Switzerland is characterized by its coarse, broad, dark green leaves. It is more drought tolerant and less likely to yellow than other varieties. The 'Grolau' chive grows up to 40 cm high. The fast-growing, high-yielding plant has white flowers and is ideal for growing in pots or balcony boxes.
- 'Profusion': 'Profusion' is a special variety because the violet to pink flowers do not form seeds.This keeps them tender for a particularly long time and makes them easy to use in the kitchen. The lush flowers are ripe early in the year and can be used. Due to the lack of seeds, propagation is only possible via the bulbs. The 'Profusion' chive is a fast-growing variety and produces high yields with its coarse, up to 40 cm long tubes.
Tip: It is well known that an herb rarely comes alone. If you are at the beginning of your own herb garden, our Plantura herb growing set will help. The compilation of five aromatic herbs - including equipment for cultivation - offers you the ideal start.
Have you been able to decide on a suitable variety? Then read this article to learn how to plant chives.