Chive is a perennial culinary herb, grown for the flavor it brings to the kitchen, ready to harvest about 80 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9, stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, even though the harvest is the prize. As an allium (the onion family), give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
3-9
pH Range
5-8.2
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
80
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What Chive is
Chive grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms purple in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Chive
Chive grows in USDA zones 3 through 9 and is ready to harvest about 80 days after planting. Chive does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,200 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 70 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8.2
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
35.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
80 days
Chive; perennial; cut-and-come-again. Cold-hardy.
UMass-Veg; USDA-NRCS
GDD Required
1200+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
70+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant chive in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Chive prefers pH 5 to 8.2 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Chive is ready about 80 days after planting (UMass-Veg; USDA-NRCS). Snip sprigs as you need them — regular cutting keeps the foliage tender and slows it bolting to flower.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — chive is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Chive offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Chive thrives
Chive is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–9·Where Chive growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Chive can grow in these states:
See if Chive will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether chive actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Chive in my zone?
Chive grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Chive take to grow?
Chive is ready to harvest about 80 days after planting (UMass-Veg; USDA-NRCS). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Chive?
Most growers plant chive after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 70-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Chive need?
Chive needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Chive need?
Chive prefers soil pH 5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Chive attract pollinators?
Yes — chive's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Chive safe for pets?
Chive is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.