I was surprised to read Mark's warning against Allium tuberosum, aka garlic chives. It is definitely not a thug in my garden. I have had it so long I can't remember the source, but I did not grow it from seed. I just went out to check its area in the herb border where it has been growing unchecked for at least 15 years. Its leaves are up about 10 cm. There are three tight clumps, probably corresponding to the original planting of bulbs. One clump has about 12 white bulbs jammed in close to each other at the surface of the soil, and the other two clumps have about 6 each. I searched a square metre around and found 12 seedlings that may be tuberosum, but may be one of the other alliums growing nearby. I did not dig any up to see if they were rhizomatous, but from their manner of growing it seems they are not. So - do I have a different species, or just a non-rhizomatous form? -- Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8 cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually) sandy soil