Osha
Ligusticum canbyi

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

Ligusticum canbyi is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1.2

Where it is found

Moist streambanks, slopes and meadows in the montane grasslands and shrublands zone.

Western North America.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, USA.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Leaves shoots and stems. A pleasant taste. The young leaves, shoots and stems can all be eaten. They have a strong celery flavour. The root is chewed rathen than eaten. Can be used as a culinary herb.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Invertebrates shelter: beneficial for insects and other arthropods. Nectary: provides nectar or pollen for beneficial insects.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A stout perennial herb from a thick taproot. The taproot is thick and fibrous. Prefers full shade and semi shade. Moist or wet soil. It grows in moist and wet stream banks. It grows at moderate and high elevations in Canada. Elevation (metres) 560 to 2300. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down.

Propagating it: Seed, Division.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 3-6

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Canby's licorice-root, Canby's Wild Lovage

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.