Allium strictum aka Erect Chive
Taxonomy ID: 4842
Allium strictum Schrad., commonly called erect chive, is a bulbous geophyte in the onion family Amaryllidaceae (subgenus Reticulatobulbosa), originally described by Schrader in Hort. Gott. (1809). It is a Eurasian species with a broad native range extending from France eastward across temperate Europe and Asia to Yakutia in eastern Siberia.
The plant produces one or two small bulbs, typically up to about 8 mm in diameter, from which a slender flowering scape rises to roughly 80 cm tall. The leaves are flat, narrow (about 4 mm wide), and shorter than the scape. In summer, the plant produces a spherical umbel densely packed with many small flowers; the tepals are rose-pink to reddish-purple, each marked by a darker purple midvein, giving the inflorescence a characteristic two-toned appearance.
In the wild, Allium strictum is a plant of stony, well-drained habitats — typically rocky slopes, cliffs, and rock crevices — where it tolerates dry, exposed, sunny conditions. Its taxonomy is somewhat unsettled: while most modern checklists (including GBIF, World Flora Online, and Kew) recognise A. strictum Schrad. as the accepted name, some sources treat it as a synonym of the closely related Allium lineare L. Recorded synonyms include Allium angustum, Allium reticulatum, and Porrum strictum.
Common names
Erect Chive, Steifer Lauch, Esnek Tuh, Czosnek SztywnyMore information about Erect Chive
Flowering
The flowers of Allium strictum are borne in dense, spherical umbels at the top of a scape that can reach up to 80 cm tall. Each umbel contains many small flowers crowded together. The tepals are rose-pink to reddish-purple with a darker purple midvein, giving the cluster a two-toned look typical of ornamental alliums.
Growth & Size
Allium strictum is a small bulbous perennial. The bulbs themselves are modest — only one or two per plant, each up to about 8 mm in diameter — but the flowering scape can reach roughly 80 cm tall. Leaves are flat, narrow (about 4 mm wide), and remain shorter than the scape.
Growing Outdoors
In its native Eurasian range, Allium strictum grows on stony slopes and cliffs, indicating a preference for sharply drained, rocky soils and full sun exposure. It is a hardy temperate species occurring from France east to Yakutia, so it tolerates cold winters and continental climates.
What is the region of origin of Erect Chive
What are the water needs for Erect Chive
What is the right soil for Erect Chive
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How to fertilize Erect Chive
Is Erect Chive toxic to humans/pets?
Sources
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