Tsuh yang asked "anyone grows chinese chives?" In this part of country, Chinese chives, Allium tuberosum, is a more or less benign weed. It self sows prolifically. Years ago when I was just starting out in onions, acquiring the skills which would eventually prompt some people to say "that Jim, he sure knows his onions!" I had a bulb catalog which offered something they called Allium odorum. It was described as having a tuberose-like fragrance. I bit. Keep in mind that back in those days ethnic food meant pizza or chow mein. The grocery stores, which now stock Allium tuberosum both as bundles of leaves and as inflorescences for eating, would have been considered avant-garde if they had fresh ginger or garlic. Back then few people knew Allium tuberosum either in the garden or on the plate. The Allium "odorum" plants arrived from the dealer, were planted, grew well, bloomed - but sure didn't smell like tuberoses: another big disappointment. For years there was mass confusion about the names of these Allium. Eventually I realized that my Allium "odorum" was also being sold as A. tuberosum. If Mark McDonough is reading this, perhaps he will tell us if there is a tuberose-scented Allium. Jim McKenney Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where Allium tuberosum is always welcome on the table but not in the garden. -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of piaba Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 5:43 PM To: plantlady@beautifulblooms.ab.ca; Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] all allium to eat? anyone grows chinese chives? i believe it's an Allium too, and you can eat the leaves as well as the flowering heads (sometimes called chinese fiddleheads). it is delicious sauteed with chicken or other veggies. ========= tsuh yang __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php