Perideridia gairdneri Yampa, Gardner's yampah, Common yampah PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Perideridia gairdneri is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from May 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 dry moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Carum gairdneri

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root
Edible Uses: Condiment

Root - raw or cooked[60, 61]. A pleasant sweet and nutty taste[2, 46, 95, 161], it can be eaten in quantity as a staple food[183]. It is best used when the plant is dormant[85]. The root can also be dried for later use or ground into a powder and used with cereals when making porridges, cakes etc[183]. The seed is used as a caraway-like seasoning, or can be parched and eaten in porridge or used as piñole[85, 177, 183, 257]. Young leaves - raw or cooked[257].

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.
Carminative Diuretic Laxative Ophthalmic Pectoral Salve

The root is carminative, diuretic, mildly laxative and ophthalmic[94, 257]. An infusion of the roots has been taken to counter the cathartic and emetic effects of another infusion[257]. An infusion of the roots has been applied as a wash to sores and wounds and also used as a nasal wash to get rid of catarrh[257]. A poultice of the roots has been used to draw inflammation from swellings[257]. The juice of the slowly chewed root is said to be beneficial in the treatment of sore throats and coughs[213, 257].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Attracts wildlife.

Special Uses

Food Forest

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on the cultivation needs of this plant and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. Judging by its native range it is likely to succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. From its native habitat it is assumed that the plant is fairly tolerant of soil conditions and of sun or shade. Yampa is a marvellous food plant that has been widely used as a staple wild food by native N. American Indians. It is just asking for cultivation in order to improve the root size[85]. 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 tuberous with swollen potato-like roots [1-2].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Alternatively, sow it in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting out in late spring of the following year. Division may be possible in spring or autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Saskatchewan (south), Alberta (south), British Columbia (south), United States, South Dakota (west), Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah,

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Perideridia oregana	Squaw Potato, Oregon yampah	Perennial	0.6	0-0		LMH	N	DM	3	0

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.

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Expert comment

Author

(Hook.&Arn.)Mathias.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Steve Dupey	Wed Nov 30 2005

Transplanted roots from wild to the garden grew three times their normal wild size under fertilized irrigated conditions. Growing from seed is said to take four years to achieve a useable size... cold striation required. Premliminary results suggest that cutting and replanting the tops with some length of the root is the best way to propagatate these plants and obtain an annual crop of roots. Rooting begins early in frosty cold soil conditions, and thus fall planting is recommended with seeds and root tops.

Perideridia gairdneri - (Hook.&Arn.)Mathias.