An attractive perennial closely related to common Chives but with a mild garlic, rather than onion flavour. Uses have included as ornamental plants in the garden, cut and dried flowers, culinary herb and traditional medicine.

As a culinary herb it is used commonly in dumplings, as a stir fry ingredient, miso soup, kimchi, pancakes and many other dishes.

Chinese herbalists recommend this species of Allium for the treatment of various ailments.

The blossom is a flat headed spray of white, star-shaped flowers that are sweetly scented, so if grown indoors on a sunny windowsill they perfume your kitchen and can be as pretty as any flowering houseplant.

A rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial plant growing from a small elongated bulb. It grows in readily expanding perennial clumps, but also readily from seed. In cold areas the leaves and stalk completely die back to the ground and re-sprout from roots or rhizomes in the spring.

Also known as Oriental garlic, Asian chives, Chinese chives, Chinese leek, Gow Choy or Nira.