Practical
Plants

Smyrnium perfoliatum

a biennial member of the Smyrnium genus in the family Umbelliferae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
biennial
Height
1.5 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and young shoots - raw in salads or cooked in soups, stews etc[7][11][14][3][9][10][2][5]. The plant commences growth in the autumn and the leaves are often available throughout the winter[11][12]. They have a rather strong celery-like flavour and are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before use[5]. Leafy seedlings can be used as a parsley substitute[5]. Stem - raw or cooked[7][11][14][3][9][10][13][2]. Tasting somewhat like celery[4], it is often blanched (by excluding light) before use[5]. This species is considered to be superior to the related S. olusatrum because it not only blanches better but is also more crisp and tender and not so harsh flavoured[5]. Flower buds - raw[3][12]. A celery-like flavour, they can be added to salads. The spicy seeds are used as a pepper substitute[12][5]. Root - cooked. Boiled and used in soups. the root is said to be more tender if it has been kept in a cool place all winter[5].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Stem

Environment

Range
S. Europe to Asia. Occasionally naturalized in Britain.
Habitat
Mixed oak woods[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in an outdoor seedbed in autumn and planted into its permanent position in late spring[1][8]. Germination can be slow[8]. Can also be sown in situ in spring[6].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils but prefers an open sunny position in a well-drained moisture retentive soil[1][8].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2

  10. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

    ↩

  14. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩1↩2

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