Do Chives Become Toxic When They Bloom?

May 24, 2025, 12:59 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

Like several other culinary herbs, chives bloom at a certain time. But can you still eat the plants then? myHOMEBOOK has the answer.

Fresh kitchen herbs enhance any dish. Rosemary, basil, and parsley are particularly popular. Chives often grow in a small pot on the windowsill. But what happens if the chives suddenly bloom? Are blooming chives still edible or perhaps even toxic? Find out here whether chives, including their flowers, are still edible.

When Chives Bloom

Typically, chives don’t get the chance to bloom because the herb is regularly used in various dishes. However, if you forget to trim the plant or just let it grow, it will bloom—usually from May to August. The flowers are particularly pretty, often displaying a violet to red hue.

Blooming Chives – Edible or Toxic?

For those worried about their chives blooming: No need to worry, it’s not a problem. Quite the opposite. The flowers are beautiful, and chives do not become poisonous—the herb remains edible.

However, the stems on which the flowers sit are not necessarily edible anymore. They become hard and thick during and after blooming to support the heavy flowers. They taste rather bitter—not good at all. This is because the plant channels all its energy into the bloom and not into the stem, causing the stem to lose its flavor.

Weeds and Wild Vegetables Planting and Care Tips for the Gallant Soldier

If you follow a few care tips, Thai basil can also grow on your own balcony or in the garden

Intense spice Planting and caring for Thai basil correctly

Borage (Borago officinalis) is a culinary herb and an eye-catcher in the garden with its spreading flowers. It is also very bee-friendly.

Proceed with caution Planting and caring for the tasty culinary herb borage in the garden

Flowers Are Also Popular with Insects

While the stems are no longer edible, you now have the flowers. They are edible and taste slightly sweet due to their nectar. The taste is also compared to very young, fresh chives.

So if your chives bloom, there’s no need to panic. The flowers can be wonderfully used in dishes—for both taste and appearance. Chive butter with the violet flowers is much more impressive. There’s another advantage to letting chives bloom: Bees and bumblebees love the flowers.

If you still want to cut the chives, it’s best to do so about two centimeters above the ground. This way, the plant will sprout again.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.