Pepper Saxifrage
Silaum silaus

Family: Apiaceae or Umbelliferae

What it is like

Silaum silaus is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Meadows and grassy banks, avoiding shady positions.

Europe, including Britain, south and east from Sweden to the Mediterranean and Siberia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Leaves - cooked. They are sometimes used as an acid tasting potherb.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils and can be grown in the summer meadow. The whole plant, when bruised, emits a most unpleasant smell of sulphured hydrogen which is difficult to remove from the skin. If eaten by cattle, the plant will impart its smell to the milk.

Propagating it: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. If you have enough seed then an outdoor sowing in situ in the spring should also succeed.

Best place to grow: Meadow;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness:

Growth:

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

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Silaus flavescens. S. pratensis.