Hedysarum boreale
| Hedysarum boreale | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 0.3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Hedysarum boreale (common name: sweet vetch)
Propagation: Seed - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in the spring[1]. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Division in spring. Great care is needed since the plant dislikes root disturbance[1].
Cultivation: Easily grown in ordinary garden soil in a sunny position, preferring a deep well-drained sandy loam[2][1].
Plants strongly resent root disturbance and should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[2].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[1].
Range: Northern N. America - Saskatchewan to Arizona.
Habitat: Calcareous gravels and rocky slopes[3].
Edibility: Young tender roots - raw or cooked[4]. Sliced and eaten raw, boiled, baked or added to soups[4]. A sweet carrot[5] or liquorice-like flavour[4].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The sub-species H. boreale mackenzii is said to have a slightly toxic root, but no mention about toxicity for this species has been found.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Livingstone, B. Flora of Canada. National Museums of Canada, 1978.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.