Practical
Plants

Sium latifolium

Water Parsnip

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Sium
Life cycle
perennial
Height
2 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Beetles, Flies, Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The entire plant, and especially the root, is poisonous[6][8]. There is no firm proof of this[9].

Edible uses

Leaves - cooked[4][2]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

An essential oil is obtained from the seed[8].

Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, excluding the northwest, Portugal, Greece and Turkey.
Habitat
Fens and other wet places, often in water, avoiding acid conditions[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter to early spring in a cold frame. The seed can be slow to germinate[5]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they are large enough. Otherwise, grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in the following spring. Division in early spring just before new growth begins. Use the side roots[1]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation

Prefers a light, rich, moisture retentive soil in full sun[5]. A plant of wet ground and shallow water, it grows best in about 20cm of water[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  7. Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7

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  8. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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