What are wild chives?

Wild chives (Allium schoenoprasum) originated in Europe and are a bulb in the same family as onion, garlic, shallots and leeks. These perennial herbs grow in clumps and produce thin, tubular stalks that measure 6 to 12 inches long. Blooms are typically in various shades of lavender or fuchsia.

Before the blooms appear, the stalks of wild chives, onion and garlic are nearly identical. When the blooms fade, the seeds are dispersed by the wind, birds or small animals. Wild chives that grow in protected areas can be used in soups, salads and to season sauces or potatoes. Wild chives that grow along roadsides or near fields where toxic herbicides and pesticides have been sprayed should never be eaten.