Black Salsify, also called Scorzonera and Black Oyster Plant, is a cold hardy perennial in the aster and lettuce family grown for its thin root with rough black skin over white flesh that can grow 1'-3' long if it has the room. Take care when harvesting, as the roots are delicate and snap easily.  Any root left behind will re-grow!

It would be fun for a blind taste test, as the edible yellow dandelion-like flower petals smell like cocoa, the edible flower buds taste like okra, and the roots taste like oyster, asparagus, or artichoke, turning sweeter and earthier after a frost.

The stems and long, wide leaves that can grow 3'-4' tall are also edible. Delicious roasted, mashed, grilled, and pickled, or simply sautéed in a little butter for a rich, unusual side dish.

• Sweet, earthy flavor
• Roots can grow 1'-3' long if they have the room!
• Prefers cooler weather
• All parts are edible
• Cold hardy

SEED PLANTING TIPS

• Botanical name: Scorzonera hispanica
• Life cycle: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness zones: 5-9
• Planting season: Spring, fall
• Days to maturity: 100-120 days
• Depth to plant seeds: 1/2" deep
• Days to germinate (sprout): 7-28 days
• Germination soil temps: 60F-75F
• Spacing between plants: 3"-4" apart
• Spacing between rows: 18"-24" apart
• # of plants per sq. ft.: Appx. 16 plants per sq. ft.
• Soil types: Sandy, loamy, moist, well-drained
• Soil pH: 6.5-7.0
• Sun needs: Full sun
• Water needs: Average
• Cold stratify: No
• Frost tolerant: Yes
• Heat tolerant: Yes
• Drought tolerant: Yes
• Deer resistant: No
• Culinary use: Yes

Good Companion Plants: Beet, Carrot, Kohlrabi, Parsnip, Potato, Rosemary, Rutabaga, Sage, Thyme, Turnip

⚠️ Always consult with your doctor and primary care provider before using or consuming herbs, flowers, seeds and/or plants for medicinal purposes.

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For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative. We pledge to you that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.  The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political, and cultural threats.

We wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy people and communities.

We do not buy - OR - grow any seed from large corporations that make Genetically Engineered seeds.  We don't touch that stuff and we never will.

The seeds we offer aren't like varieties you'd typically find at a garden center. 

Every variety we offer is 100% OP (open-pollinated).  Open-pollination means that you can safely save the seed after harvest and preserve a collection of heirloom seed for many generations to come.

To make it perfectly clear ... Our seeds do not contain any exogenously inserted embryogenesis deactivator genes caused by human intervention.