Vegetable Oyster Plant, Salsify, Wild Quinine
Tragopogon porrifolius
| Family: | Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Tragopogon (tra-go-POH-gon) (Info) |
| Species: | porrifolius (po-ree-FOH-lee-us) (Info) |
Category:
Biennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Foliage Color:
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing:
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Lavender
Medium Purple
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
Regional
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Arroyo Grande, California
Claremont, California
Folsom, California
Hayward, California
Imperial Beach, California
Merced, California
Oakland, California
Vacaville, California (2 reports)
Blue Springs, Missouri
Neptune, New Jersey
Tonawanda, New York
Norman, Oklahoma
Ashland, Oregon
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Temple, Texas
Wild Rose, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Positive | On Dec 30, 2015, BotanyDave from Norman, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Decided to plant a few seeds in my backyard to compliment my wild transplants of a related species. After 2 years (they're biennial), and upon flowering, I tried to cross-pollinate the two- and succeeded! "Tragopogon mirus" was the result (the cross has been previously recognized as occurring in North America, but not where their native ranges overlap in Europe), and has traits of both parent species (and is polyploidy)! |
| Positive | On Jun 3, 2013, ClimbTheMtns from Walnut Creek, CA wrote: Salsify has become one of my new most favorite plants. It's spherical seed head is astoundingly symmetrical. It self-seeds like there's no tomorrow. And it requires so little water. |
| Neutral | On Dec 30, 2008, Robubba from Moulton, IA wrote: Salsify helps carrots, lettuce, onions, and leeks in companion planting. |
| Positive | On Jul 22, 2004, wilsweb from London, There is a growing area of salsify in the India Dock basin bird sanctuary next to the Thames in London. |
