- Botanical name: Tragopogon porrifolius
- Common name: Salsify
- Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Biennial
Purple
Blue/Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
- Prefers rich soil
- Succeeds on poor soil
Salsify, Tragopogon porrifolius, is a fabulous plant to have in the garden. This hardy biennial not only looks good, bearing purple, starry flowers from spring to autumn, but is also edible and good for wildlife. Typically it’s the roots that are eaten, which are said to have an oyster-like flavour, but the young shoots and flowers are edible too, and are often added to salads.
Try growing Tragopogon porrifolius in your veg beds and plots to give them a more ornamental look. It also looks wonderful growing in gravel gardens and meadows, where it will gently self-seed.
For best results, grow Tragopogon porrifolius in full sun, in moist, deep, well-drained soil. Either sow the seeds with bottom heat from late winter to early spring, or direct sow them where they are to flower in spring.
How to grow Tragopogon porrifolius
-
Plant size
100cm height
40cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do Collect seeds in August |
S
Do Collect seeds in September |
O
Do Collect seeds in October |
N
Do not Collect seeds in November |
D
Do not Collect seeds in December |
Tragopogon porrifolius and wildlife
Tragopogon porrifolius is known for attracting bees. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Does not attract Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Does not attract Butterflies/Moths
Does not attract Other pollinators
Is Tragopogon porrifolius poisonous?
Tragopogon porrifolius has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Tragopogon porrifolius
