Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Last reviewed: October 2026
Chives is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Native swaps for a yard with pets
Chives is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. These natives fill a similar role in a planting and are not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs or cats. Each plant's page carries its dated record.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–18" H × 8"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
CO, ID, MA, ME and 12 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Chives.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Chives are a compact, well-behaved perennial herb with thin, grass-like foliage and cheerful purple globe-shaped flowers in late spring. This native allium forms neat clumps that stay tidy throughout the growing season and can be easily harvested for culinary use.
In an HOA neighborhood
Chives is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
The purple flower globes are excellent for attracting bees and butterflies during their May-June bloom period. The long blooming flowers provide reliable nectar sources for pollinators in late spring.
Common questions
- How much sun does Chives need?
- Chives grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Chives bloom?
- Chives blooms in May and June.
- Where is Chives native?
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is native to CO, ID, MA, ME and 12 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Chives toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Chives is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Chives toxic to cats?
- Yes. Chives is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Chives attract?
- Chives draws bees and butterflies.
- Is Chives HOA-friendly?
- Chives is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Chives and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.