natural herbs
Alpine Sweetvetch
Hedysarum alpinum
Herb: Alpine Sweetvetch
Latin name: Hedysarum alpinum
Synonyms: Hedysarum americanum, Hedysarum boreale
Family: Leguminosae
Edible parts of Alpine Sweetvetch:
Root - raw or cooked. A carrot-like flavour. The root can be harvested from autumn until spring, it tastes best after some frosts.Description of the plant:
Plant:
PerennialHeight:
60 cm(2 feet)
Flowering:
JuneHabitat of the herb:
Calcareous rocks and gravelly soils, north to Alaska. Swampy meadows and swamps in China.Propagation of Alpine Sweetvetch:
Seed - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in the spring. 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.Cultivation of the herb:
Calcareous rocks and gravelly soils, north to Alaska. Swampy meadows and swamps in China.Medicinal use of Alpine Sweetvetch:
None knownKnown hazards of Hedysarum alpinum:
None knownPlant information taken from the Plants For A Future.