Allium schoenoprasum ‘Cassis Ice’

Chives 'Cassis Ice' Amaryllidaceae

Why settle for ordinary chives when you can have chives that look as though they have been dipped in cassis? ‘Cassis Ice’ is an unusually richly coloured form, producing intensely dark violet flower heads above neat clumps of familiar, onion-flavoured foliage. It arose as a chance seedling in Germany, where a single plant was selected for its exceptionally deep flower colour and subsequently propagated for several years. Both leaves and flowers are edible, with the flowers particularly good crumbled over salads, omelettes or other dishes. A genuinely useful culinary herb that also happens to be rather glamorous. Height: 30cm. Spread: 20–30cm. And yes, the flowers really are edible—so resist the temptation to merely admire them.