Wild & Historic Edibles

Alexanders

Smyrnium olusatrum

A Roman-era vegetable with edible shoots, leaves and flower buds — once common enough to be ordinary, now unusual enough to stop people scrolling.

BiennialRoman-era ediblePart shade

Awaiting restock

Plants are grown on a small scale. The exact supplied size and format can vary with the season; when this item is available, the current sale details are shown here.

This plant is currently awaiting restock.

LifecycleBiennial (self-seeding; returns reliably each year)

PositionFull sun to partial shade

SoilDeep, reasonably fertile soil that does not sit waterlogged in winter. It is adaptable and will cope with ordinary garden soil once established.

Garden sizeMature plants reach 100–180 cm tall, spreading up to 60 cm wide

ContainerSuitable for container growing (minimum 30 cm diameter, deep container recommended)

Historic erasAncient

Why it belongs in a forgotten garden

Alexanders — the story

Why grow it?

Alexanders earns its space as an early spring vegetable that bridges the hungry gap. It is tall enough to make a statement at the back of a bed, tolerant of less-than-perfect corners, and useful from young leaf to seed.

History & context

A quiet favourite with a history stretching back to the Romans, Alexanders is a versatile and unassuming vegetable with a mild sweetness. Known as "Black Lovage," this tenacious biennial thrived in forgotten corners of Europe long after it was abandoned by formal gardeners. Now, it offers a reliable, low-maintenance yield to those willing to rediscover its subtle charm.

Explore its place in Ancient garden history.

Growing guide

How to grow Alexanders

Soil & position

Deep, reasonably fertile soil that does not sit waterlogged in winter. It is adaptable and will cope with ordinary garden soil once established.

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Water

Water young plants while establishing. Older plants are fairly tolerant of short dry spells, although spring growth is more tender where moisture is steady.

Propagation

Usually grown from seed. Fresh seed is easiest; autumn sowing lets winter provide natural cold exposure. Spring sowing may benefit from a period of cold stratification.

Sowing referenceSow Oct–Nov, germinates springDepth: 1 cm • Cold treatment: Yes

Ongoing care

Little is needed beyond removing coarse old stems and deciding whether to let some second-year plants flower and self-seed. Leave seedheads where you want a continuing colony.

From garden to kitchen

Harvesting & eating it

When to harvest

Young leaves and shoots are best from late winter through spring. Flower buds can be taken before opening; seeds are collected when dry later in the year.

Cut the youngest stems and leaves in spring before they become coarse. Flower buds can also be taken young; let selected plants seed if you want the biennial to maintain itself.

What is edible?

Young leaves, peeled young stems, flower buds and mature seeds.

Flavour & cooking

The mildly peppery leaves and tender, crunchy stems are delicious raw in salads or cooked in soups and stews. Once likened to asparagus, the stems offer a unique, aromatic sweetness. Dried seeds can be used as a fragrant spice.

Food value

A leafy vegetable used in relatively modest portions. Like many green vegetables it contributes fibre and micronutrients, but its strongest reason for growing is seasonal variety rather than any single “superfood” claim.

Traditional medicinal uses, where mentioned in the historical material, are included as history rather than medical advice.

Kitchen history

Buttered Alexanders shoots with lemon

A very simple way to understand why Alexanders was once treated as an everyday spring vegetable.

A modern way to cook a vegetable with a long history of use in Britain.

You’ll need

250 g young Alexanders shoots and tender stems
20 g butter
1 tsp olive oil
½ lemon, zest and juice
2 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs
Salt and black pepper

Method

Wash the shoots well and trim away any fibrous lower stem.
Simmer or steam for 4–6 minutes until just tender, then drain thoroughly.
Warm the butter and olive oil in a frying pan and add the shoots.
Toss for 2 minutes, then add lemon zest, a squeeze of juice and black pepper.
Finish with breadcrumbs and cook for another minute until they catch a little colour.

How tough is it?

Resilience, pests & garden value

Resilience

A tough and unassuming survivor, Alexanders is highly resilient to common pests and capable of withstanding periods of drought. Its steadfast nature makes it a reliable choice for any garden, providing a consistent yield even in unpredictable conditions.

Pests & practical problems

Usually trouble-free. Slugs and snails may mark young growth. Because it belongs to the carrot family, do not use foraged plants unless identification is certain; cultivated, labelled plants remove that ambiguity.

Wildlife value

The large umbels are attractive to many small pollinating insects if plants are allowed to flower.

Growing in a container

Suitable for container growing (minimum 30 cm diameter, deep container recommended)

Container plants generally need more frequent watering and feeding than the same plant in open ground.

Ready to grow it?

Alexanders

Plants are grown on a small scale. The exact supplied size and format can vary with the season; when this item is available, the current sale details are shown here.

Awaiting restock

Alexanders

Alexanders — the story

Why grow it?

History & context

How to grow Alexanders

Soil & position

Water

Propagation

Ongoing care

Harvesting & eating it

When to harvest

What is edible?

Flavour & cooking

Food value

Buttered Alexanders shoots with lemon

You’ll need

Method

Resilience, pests & garden value

Resilience

Pests & practical problems

Wildlife value

Growing in a container

Alexanders

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