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Common Name:

General Information

Mertensia bella is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western N. America - Oregon and Idaho.

Habitat

Wet meadows, moist slopes and springy banks at mid-altitudes in mountains[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in at least the milder areas of the country. It is said to be a very distinct member of the genus with no close allies[]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Easily grown in an ordinary garden soil with some shade[, ].

Edible Uses

Flowers - raw[].
Leaves - raw or cooked[]. The leaves are rather hairy and are not so nice when eaten raw[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[, ]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. Protect from direct sunlight[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division, with care, in early spring or autumn[].