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Common Name: Golden Alexanders

General Information

Smyrnium perfoliatum is a Biennial up to 1.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. Europe to Asia. Occasionally naturalized in Britain.

Habitat

Mixed oak woods[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Biennial
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils but prefers an open sunny position in a well-drained moisture retentive soil[, ].
Self-sows freely with us in our Cornwall garden, in a suuny, sheltered position[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw in salads or cooked in soups, stews etc[, , , , , , , ]. The plant commences growth in the autumn and the leaves are often available throughout the winter[, ]. They have a rather strong celery-like flavour and are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before use[]. Leafy seedlings can be used as a parsley substitute[].
Stem - raw or cooked[, , , , , , , ]. Tasting somewhat like celery[], it is often blanched (by excluding light) before use[]. 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[].
Flower buds - raw[, ]. A celery-like flavour, they can be added to salads.
The spicy seeds are used as a pepper substitute[, ].
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[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

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