I have a plot of Garlic Chives near my deck/front steps, & although the flowers taste like garlic, they have a light sweet scent, attract scads of butterflies, & look lovely this time of year.
Garlic Chives in Bloom
I have them in a few different places.No care at all and they come back every year.
These look like the same plants my neighbor has and they are very invasive. I have them coming up all over my yard.
Yes - they do reseed heavily, but that can be avoided somewhat by deadheading, although I never bother as I like the way the seed heads look during the winter.
When spring comes & the seedlings start popping up, I just weed them out - they pull fairly easily & make tasty additions to salads, stirfries, & potato dishes.
I do the same thing, deadhead the flower blooms. That helps somewhat.
I'm with you, breezy -- I like the way the bloom stalks look in winter. Mine are in a small bed in front, so they don't get a chance to spread far. BlueSpiral recently suggested using the dried flower heads in wreaths... neat idea!
Something that I've done using both Garlic Chive seedheads (with the seeds shaken out) & the flower head skeletons of Queen Anne's Lace is to spritz them with some gold spray paint. I then poke them into Xmas gift baskets for decoration, along with evergreen sprigs & sprigs of tiny rose hips from wild multiflora roses.
Nice!
If you're not using spray paint, an old trick for more delicate dried flowers is to spritz them with hair spray to help them stay intact... I remember doing this with some seedheads that looked like huge dandelion puffs.
I love mine and just let them bloom and reseed. They smell so nice. I never thought of using the flower heads as above. Really great ideas!
I would like a recipe that features Garlic Chives. Does anyone know if Garlic Chives are the same as Chinese Chives?
Yes - they're one & the same. Since I have them coming out of my ears, I use mine in any recipe calling for regular chives - topping potatoes & other veggies, in omelettes, salads, as a substitute for scallions, etc. In addition, the flowers make lovely edible garnishes & can also be tossed into salads.
However, I do have recipes that utilize them more fully. In China they are frequently used as a vegetable in their own right. Will check out my books & let you know what I discover.
Bonnie
Darlindeb - here's a recipe I've made that uses a fair amount of Garlic Chives:
Chicken Shreds With Bean Curd & Chinese Chives
(Adapted from "Madame Chu's Chinese Cooking School"
Approx. 1/2# or 1-2 boneless/skinless chicken breast halves, cut into small shreds
One square of extra-firm or pressed bean curd, cut into matchstick size
6 dried Chinese or Shitake mushrooms (soaked until soft) OR 6 fresh Shitake mushrooms - cut into matchstick shreds
1 cup of 1-1/2" sliced lengths of Garlic Chives
1 cup of fresh bean sprouts
One small can of sliced bamboo shoots, sliced into matchstick size
1 Tbls. dry sherry
1 Tbls. soy sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
hot red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
1/4 cup water
Peanut or Vegetable oil
Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a wok or large frying pan & stir fry chicken shreds until no longer pink. Add sherry, soy sauce, sugar, & hot pepper flakes (if using) & mix well. Add mushrooms, bamboo shoots, Garlic Chives, & bean curd. Mix thoroughly again, then add water & cook for 2 minutes. Mix in bean sprouts, mix again, & serve immediately over rice.
Thanks. I'll put my own spin on it, and give it a try.
darlindeb
If anyone has any seeds they can "broadcast" my way - I'd love to send some postage!!
Swoz
Swoznick - I have seeds - lol!!! Send me two usable stamps that I can stick on a padded envelope & they're yours!!!!
D-mail me for address.
Breezymeadow - You've got Dmail. I'm in the exchange.
Swoz