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Common Name: Pellitory Of The Wall

General Information

Parietaria judaica 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 and southern Europe, including Britain.

Habitat

Hedgebanks, cracks in rocks and dry walls[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained to dry alkaline soil in full sun or semi-shade[]. The plant grows well on drystone walls[].
This plant is sometimes erroneously called P. officinalis. The true P. officinalis. L. is an European plant that is not found in Britain, P. judaica is its British representative[].
The pollen of this plant is one of the earliest and most active of the hay fever allergens[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Young plant - raw or cooked[, ]. The young shoots can be added to mixed salads[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. Prick out the seedling when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown in situ in autumn or spring.
Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.