Chives are one of the easiest alliums to grow but not entirely risk-free for seed saving -- they're insect-pollinated and will cross with other chive varieties, though not with onion, leek or garlic since those are different species.
New to terms like isolation distance or outcrossing? See the Seed-Saving Glossary.
Seed-Saving Difficulty
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Moderate Difficulty
Moderate crossing risk.
How It's Pollinated
Insect-pollinated
(Moderate crossing risk)
Scientific name: Allium schoenoprasum
Domestic Crops It Can Cross With
- Other chive varieties flowering at the same time
- Does not cross with onion, leek, garlic or shallot -- different species
Wild Relatives & Feral Species
- No significant wild relatives in most home garden regions
Separation Distances Required
Minimum: 100m between varieties
Recommended: 200m for reliable purity
Strict: Bag flower heads for guaranteed purity
Seed-Saving Strategies
- Perennial -- clumps flower reliably from year two onward
- Allow flower heads to dry and turn papery brown
- Strip seed by hand once dry
- Store dry -- viable 1-2 years, shorter than most alliums