Easy to grow, tasty and healthy these flat leaved chives keep giving.
Garlic chives and society garlic are very similar in appearance - the main difference being their flower. Their growing habits, flavour and uses are also interchangeable. In both plants the leaves are flat and strappy, grow in clumps and have a garlicy flavour.
They are rich in carotene, vitamins B, C and E,
Flowers
Society garlic have beautiful pinky purple flowers while the flowers of garlic chives are white. Bees and butterflies love the flowers and they attract beneficial insects to help protect other more vulnerable plants in the garden.
Society garlic flowers are often seen in public garden plantings or as border edging. They are also great in cut flower arrangements or dried for floral displays.
The flowers in both plants are edible and they add a galic hint when added to salads or used as garnishes in savoury dishes. They can also be added to oils and vinegars for flavour and beauty. More on edible flowers here
Cooking
These chives are often an integral part of East Asian cooking. They can be used like an chive or shallot - added to a dish at the last minute so they remain fresh and don't lose their flavour. Chinese chive pancakes are a delicious snack and the Korean chive pancake - buchujeon- makes a healthy meal.
In noodle dishes don't cut the leaves short as the long leaves work well beside the noodles.
Growing
The clumps can be divided every few years and either given away or transplanted to increase your crop. They are very hardy plants and require little care.
As they are perennial plants avoid planting near annuals so they roots don't become disturbed.
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A list of edible flowers: Edible flowers through the rainbow
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