Silaum silaus (L.) Schinz & Thell.
Pepper Saxifrage
Pepper saxifrage is a native perennial of the carrot family, despite a name that links it misleadingly to the saxifrages. It grows from a basal tuft of finely divided, somewhat shiny leaves, sending up slender, ridged stems topped with open umbels of small flowers in a distinctive dull greenish- to sulphur-yellow, an unusual colour among Britain's white-flowered umbellifers.
About
Pepper saxifrage is a native perennial of the carrot family, despite a name that links it misleadingly to the saxifrages. It grows from a basal tuft of finely divided, somewhat shiny leaves, sending up slender, ridged stems topped with open umbels of small flowers in a distinctive dull greenish- to sulphur-yellow, an unusual colour among Britain's white-flowered umbellifers. It typically reaches around 40 to 60cm.
It is characteristic of unimproved grassland on neutral, often damp soils, from traditional hay meadows to old roadside verges, flowering through summer into early autumn. As a plant that lingers mainly in long-established, species-rich grassland, it is regarded as a good indicator of meadows that have escaped agricultural improvement. The flowers attract a range of small insects, and it is a valued, if uncommon, component of meadow restoration and neutral-grassland seed mixes.
Also known as
Pepper-Saxifrage · pepper saxifrage
Synonyms
Cnidium pratense · Cnidium silaus · Cnidium silaus angustifolium · Cnidium silaus latifolium · Crithmum silaus · Ligusticum alpestre · Ligusticum arenarium · Ligusticum silaus · Meum sibiricum · Meum silaus
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.