Translate this page:

Summary

Menzie’s fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii) is a widespread, fast-growing annual of deserts and grasslands in western North America. It produces dense spring carpets of coiled yellow flowers and was occasionally eaten as a boiled green or seed source by Native peoples. However, like all fiddlenecks, it contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids that make it unsafe for regular consumption despite its mild flavor. While toxic to livestock and unsuitable as food, it plays an ecological role by providing early nectar to pollinators and stabilizing soils. Edibility rating: 1/5.

Physical Characteristics

Amsinckia menziesii is a ANNUAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms: Benthamia menziesii (Lehm.) Druce. Echium menziesii Lehm.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

All reports of edibility for Amsinckia menziesii must be treated with caution. The young leaves were historically used as a boiled green by some Native American groups (e.g., Pima, Kawaiisu, Gosiute), and the seeds are sometimes mentioned as edible. Still, like all fiddlenecks, the plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are cumulative liver toxins. These compounds are not removed by boiling, drying, or baking. While the boiled leaves can have a mild, spinach-like taste, and the seeds have been eaten in the past, both parts pose significant health risks if consumed. Edibility rating: 1/5 – potentially edible but unsafe; occasional historical use does not make it a safe food.

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.

No reliable records of medicinal use, though pyrrolizidine alkaloid content suggests potential for toxic effects if used that way.

References More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.

More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Provides early-season nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. Helps stabilize disturbed soils with dense seasonal cover. Occasionally used ornamentally in wildflower seed mixes, but toxicity to animals limits its appeal.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An annual and grows primarily in the temperate biome. Prefers open, sunny habitats with sandy, gravelly, or disturbed soils. Found in deserts, foothills, grasslands, and roadsides. Thrives in disturbed or degraded ground and is well adapted to arid conditions. Habitat: Widespread in the western United States and northern Mexico. Found in deserts, open valleys, foothills, and occasionally grasslands. Carpets landscapes in late winter and early spring, often forming dense golden patches. Hardy in USDA zones 6–10, typical for desert and grassland annuals. Germinates with winter rains and flowers in spring.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed. Germinates quickly after winter rains, grows vigorously, and flowers profusely in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Menzie’s fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii)

Native Range

Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Khabarovsk, Maine, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, Yukon

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 it's worth checking.

Moderately high. A prolific reseeder that spreads aggressively in disturbed sites. Considered a toxic range weed to grazing animals (cattle and horses especially). Not invasive outside its native range, but in suitable habitats it forms dense, dominant stands.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not available

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Other
Amsinckia lycopsoides	Tarweed Fiddleneck	Annual	0.6	6-9		LMH	N	DM	1
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia	Common Fiddleneck	Annual	1.0	6-10	F	LM	N	DM	1	2
Amsinckia tesselata	Bristly Fiddleneck	Annual	0.6	6-10	F	LMH	N	DM	1	2

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.

Now available: Food Forest Plants for Mediterranean Conditions 350+ Perennial Plants For Mediterranean and Drier Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens. [Paperback and eBook]

This is the third in Plants For A Future's series of plant guides for food forests tailored to specific climate zones. Following volumes on temperate and tropical ecosystems, this book focuses on species suited to Mediterranean conditionsâ€”regions with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, often facing the added challenge of climate change.

Amsinckia menziesii - (Lehm.) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.