Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)

Salsify is part of the daisy family. A cold hardy biennial , it grows to around 120cm tall with grass-like leaves and stunning purple flowers. The entire plant is edible when young. New shoots can be eaten as spring greens, flower buds and flowers can be added to salads and young roots can be eaten raw. Sometimes called the ‘oyster plant’ because of its mild oyster-like taste, the mature roots (ready in Autumn) can be used in much the same way as any other root vegetable – mashed, boiled or roasted. Worth growing for its flowers alone – a lovely addition to an ornamental border.