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Common Name:

General Information

Scorzonera austriaca is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe through central Asia to N. China in eastern Asia.

Habitat

Dry places, C. France to Czechoslovakia, south to S. Italy and Bulgaria. Slopes, floodplains, grassy beaches at elevations of 400 - 2000 metres in N. China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
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 most parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Succeeds in any soil in sun or light shade[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, ].
Young leaves - cooked[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in the greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into relatively deep pots to accommodate the tap root. If growth is good, plant out in early summer, other wise grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year.
Division in autumn or as growth commences in the spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.