Latin Name: Lomatium nudicaule
Common Name(s): Barestem Biscuitroot
Family: Apiaceae
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide
Life Cycle: Perennial
Distribution: Western North America from California north to Canada and East into Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. Usually found in meadows, scrub, grassy slopes, and open woodlands.
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 6 to 9
Drought Tolerance: High. If it gets too dry it just dies to the ground and waits for next year. Seedlings might need some coddling to get through their first year, however, especially if transplanted.
Fire Risk: Quite low and survives well in environments that burn regularly. Foliage dies to the ground by mid-summer.
Cultivation Notes
Lomatium nudicaule, commonly known as barestem desert parsley or wild celery, is a flowering plant species in the carrot family native to western North America.It is known for its delicate yellow flowers and bluish-gray slender, bare stems and is a great choice for gardens, as it is hardy, attractive, and adaptable. The yellow flowers are very attractive to insects. It is not picky about soil type, thriving in either sand or clay, but does not deal well with being waterlogged. Unlike some summer dormant natives it can survive a bit of summer water. It can deal with full, harsh sun or light shade. Like most other Lomatium species it grows will in the spaces between native bunchgrasses or in rock gardens.
Ecology
The attractive yellow flowers bloom from April to July. They are very attractive to pollinators, like most plants in the carrot family, particularly parasitic wasps, flies, and small bees. Some lepidopteran larvae also feed on the foliage, including some species of swallowtail.
Uses
Lomatium species have a wide variety of medical and edible uses. I won’t comment on the medical uses here. The plant is edible, from the seeds to the roots. The seeds have a powerful scent and flavor that is something like parsley, cumin, and more. The seeds and the leaves can be eaten and their strong flavor lends themselves well to being used like a spice. Though the root is edible this species was likely more often used as a vegetable.
Propagation
Lomatium species are best propagated by seed. Seed for this species is widely available but needs to be fresh to germinate well. Protect the seeds from birds and plant in the fall, as they need stratification. Germination is slow and erratic and the seeds are short lived, so plant fresh seed and plant them the first fall you receive them.