Garlic chives are a common ingredient in our daily dishes and are often planted in home gardens. But did you know that garlic chives can also flower? What do these flowers look like? When do they bloom? What do they signify? Let's explore the mystery of garlic chive flowering together.
What are garlic chives?
Garlic chives (*Allium tuberosum*) are a perennial herb, also known as "yellow chives" or "garlic sprouts," among other names. They are highly adaptable and can grow on plains, hillsides, and grasslands.
Appearance characteristics of garlic chives
Garlic chives is an herb with a distinct oniony aroma. Its leaves are cylindrical and tubular, growing upright to a height of 30-50 cm. The leaves have a strong fragrance, with the lower part resembling a clump of grass and the upper part forming a thick, umbrella-shaped inflorescence.
Flowering period of garlic chives
The flowering period of garlic chives is typically from April to July, with the specific time varying depending on different climates and geographical environments. When the garlic chives reach a certain height, they begin to differentiate into flower buds.
Preparation before garlic chives flower
Before officially flowering, garlic chives go through a preparation period. Usually, after reaching a certain height, the leaves gradually bend from the edges towards the center. As they grow, the garlic chive leaves become narrower and curl, with the edges turning yellow.
Appearance of garlic chive flowers
The flowers of garlic chives are spherical, composed of many small white florets. Each small flower has six petals, and the umbrella-shaped inflorescence is also beautiful. After flowering, the plant retains its characteristic oniony aroma.
How to handle garlic chives after they flower
After garlic chives flower, their growth rate gradually slows down and the rapid growth period ends. At this point, you can cut off the roots to allow them to regrow, ensuring their quality in subsequent periods.
Flower language of garlic chives
It is said that in traditional Chinese culture, garlic chive flowering represents the continuation of life and the arrival of happiness. In Western culture, garlic chives are regarded as a plant with sacred properties.
The difference between garlic chive and scallion flowering
Many people easily confuse garlic chives with scallions. In fact, the way scallions and garlic chives flower is different. Scallion petals are smaller, usually in colors like white, yellow, and purple, while garlic chive petals are larger and pure white.
The impact of flowering on the garlic chive plant
Flowering has a certain impact on the garlic chive plant. When the inflorescence begins to form, its growth rate slows down, and the leaves become relatively thinner. Moreover, after flowering, the nutritional value of garlic chives gradually decreases.
Medicinal value of garlic chives
In addition to being a food, garlic chives are also widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to research, garlic chives have effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, and aiding digestion, which is why they are widely used in TCM.
Nutritional value of garlic chives
Garlic chives are not only rich in vitamins and minerals but also contain a large amount of dietary fiber, which plays an important role in promoting intestinal peristalsis and lowering cholesterol.
How to plant garlic chives
The planting method for garlic chives is very simple, generally using the division method. First, choose a sunny, soft-soiled, and well-drained location. Then, separate the roots of the garlic chives, soak the roots in water, and plant them at a suitable time.
Wonderful uses of garlic chives
In daily life, besides being food and medicine, garlic chives have many other wonderful uses. For example, rubbing garlic chives into a juice can be used to treat hair loss, and soaking feet in garlic chive water can relieve symptoms like athlete's foot.
Edible parts of flowering garlic chives
The flowers of garlic chives are also edible. You can pick out the petals, wash them, and use them for fillings in dumplings or steamed dumplings. Additionally, the aroma is more intense after flowering, so the flowering parts can also be directly added during cooking.
Through this article, we have detailed the appearance, flowering period, and flower language of garlic chives, and also shared some tips for planting and using them. We hope this information is helpful to everyone.