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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Osmorhiza longistylis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root Shoots
Edible Uses: Condiment Tea

Root - raw or cooked. Very sweet, aromatic and fleshy[222]. A spicy flavour similar to anise, the roots are chewed, made into a tea or used as a flavouring[105, 171, 183]. Leaves and young shoots - raw. An anise flavour, they are added to salads[177, 183]. The green seeds have an anise flavour and are used as a flavouring in salads, the dry seeds are added to cakes etc[183].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Birthing aid Ophthalmic Poultice Stomachic

A poultice of the roots are used in the treatment of boils and wounds[207, 222]. A tea made from the roots is stomachic[222]. It has been used in the treatment of stomach complaints, kidney problems, amenorrhoea, general debility, to ease childbirth and also to bathe sore eyes[222, 257].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Scented.

Special Uses

Food Forest Scented Plants

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any deep moisture-retentive soil in sun or dappled shade[200]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[200]. Well suited to naturalistic plantings in a woodland or wild garden[200]. A sweetly aromatic plant[200]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots [1-2]. The root pattern is fleshy. Thick or swollen - fibrous or tap root [1-2].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise sow it in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan (south), Alberta (southeast), Manitoba (south), United States, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (east), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado (central), Montana (east), Wyoming (east), Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Osmorhiza aristata		Perennial	0.6	-	LMH	SN	M	3	0
Osmorhiza chilensis		Perennial	0.8	5-9	LMH	SN	M	3	0
Osmorhiza claytonii	Woolly Sweet-Cicely, Clayton's sweetroot	Perennial	1.0	5-9	LMH	SN	M	3	1	1
Osmorhiza obtusa		Perennial	1.0	-	LMH	SN	M	3	0
Osmorhiza occidentalis	Western Sweet-Cicely, Western sweetroot	Perennial	1.0	5-9	LMH	SN	M	3	2	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Osmorhiza longistylis - (Torr.)DC.