Allium schoenoprasum ‘Cassis Ice’

Chives 'Cassis Ice' Amaryllidaceae

A particularly striking selection of the common chive, originating as a chance seedling at Deaflora, Germany. Among a seed-raised batch, one plant stood out for its exceptionally intense flowering and, most importantly, its remarkably dark violet flowers — darker than any of the other plants in the seedling population. A single flowering stem was selected and the plant has since been propagated over several years to preserve this outstanding colour. 

The result is a compact, useful culinary chive with deep cassis-purple flower heads carried above slender green foliage. It makes an unusually good ornamental plant for something normally destined for the herb garden, while retaining the essential virtue that it can be eaten. The flowers and leaves both have the familiar fresh chive flavour.

Introduction: A chance seedling selected at Deaflora, Germany. The original plant was singled out for its exceptionally dark violet flowers and one flowering stem was selected for further propagation. It was first offered commercially by Deaflora as a new selection and is now maintained as a rare cultivar in specialist collections. 

Edible: Both the young leaves and flowers are edible, with the characteristic mild onion flavour of chives. Use the leaves freshly snipped into salads, soups, sauces, omelettes and savoury dishes; the flowers can be pulled apart into individual florets and used as an edible garnish. Regular cutting encourages fresh, tender foliage. 

The name Cassis Ice is particularly appropriate: the flowers are an unusually deep blackcurrant-purple, making this one of the more dramatic chives for the edible or ornamental garden.

Height: 30–40 cm
Spread: 20–30 cm
Flowers: May–July
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, reasonably fertile soil
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Propagation: Division; seed will not reliably reproduce the selected flower colour

A chive with serious flower power and absolutely no objection to being chopped up for supper — which, frankly, is exactly the sort of dual-purpose plant we like at Edulis.