My garden, alive in my pocket.
Track my garden
🌿

Salsify

Tragopogon porrifolius · Asteraceae

The gardener's calendar

The right move for September

Ideal time to plant salsify: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.

JFMAMJJASOND Planting

ID card

Scientific name
Tragopogon porrifolius
Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Biennial herbaceous plant
Adult size
60 to 120 cm in height
Flowering
May to July, purple flowers
Foliage
Deciduous, linear grey-green leaves
Hardiness
Very hardy, zones 4 to 10
Origin
Mediterranean region and Western Asia

Care

Light exposure

Plant salsify in full sun for optimal growth and better flowering. It tolerates partial shade but produces fewer flowers. Avoid overly shaded areas that would promote etiolation.

Soil

Prepare well-draining, loose, and deep soil (at least 30 cm), ideally enriched with organic matter. This plant accepts poor to average soils and prefers light earth. Avoid waterlogging which could rot the roots.

Watering

Water regularly during the first year of establishment to keep the soil moist but not saturated. Once well established, salsify tolerates relative drought and needs little watering except during intense summer periods. Reduce water in autumn and winter.

Fertilizing

An application of well-decomposed compost at planting time is generally sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen which would favor foliage at the expense of flowering. A balanced fertilizer in spring can support growth if the soil is poor.

Pruning and maintenance

Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous flowering. You can prune the plant lightly at the end of the first year to promote a more compact habit. No severe pruning is necessary.

Diseases and pests

This plant is generally very robust and not very susceptible to diseases. In overly humid conditions, watch for powdery mildew or downy mildew. Slugs may occasionally attack young leaves; mulching and vigilance are sufficient.

Did you know?

Leek-leafed salsify was once cultivated as a root vegetable in Europe, where its whitish root served as a substitute for asparagus. Its magnificent purple flowers, which only open in the morning, earned it the nickname "goat's beard" in reference to its feathery fruits resembling dandelion-like parachutes.

Where to buy it

Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.

Add this plant to my garden →

Plants from the same family

Browse all plants →

Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.