silphe perfolié bio

Silphium perfoliatum, Asteraceae

sylphie perfoliée, silphium perfolié, cup plant

A magnificent perennial native to North America, big bluestem has its place in your flowerbeds or garden borders. There are several aspects of this plant that we find particularly attractive for biodiversity in the garden: its beautiful, long flowering season attracts bees, bumblebees and a host of other pollinators; the seeds it produces are a veritable larder for birds, and the domes it forms in the leaf axils create magnificent drinking troughs for insects and birds. Hummingbirds even use it as a bathtub. It's also an important source of biomass and fodder for regenerative agriculture (see the article on this subject on the valbium.be)

Silphium perfolié requires a long stratification period of 2 to 3 months, but once established, this very hardy perennial (zone 3) is virtually indestructible. It reseeds spontaneously without becoming invasive, and requires little maintenance. It is important to give it sufficient space, around 80 cm between each plant, otherwise it will make its own place at the expense of plants too close to it. It grows well in clumps of several individuals, up to 3 m high, creating an excellent natural windbreak.

Finally, a plant that, if it were edible, would have all the qualities. But, but, but ... It IS edible!!! We only became aware of its edibility belatedly, and promised ourselves we'd test it next year to learn how to prepare it like the world, inspired by the experience of dear Alan Bergo (The Forager Chef) who shares his appreciation of Silphium's edibility via this article.

Seeds certified organic by Québec Vrai,produced here at LA SOCIÉTÉ DES PLANTES, Kamouraska, Qc

about 30 seeds