Stanleya albescens

Jones

White Prince's plume

Brassicaceae Edible: Leaves, Caution, Seeds 32 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

A perennial hardy to UK zone 7. Hermaphroditic flowers are insect-pollinated. Grows in light sandy or medium loamy soils with good drainage and accepts mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and tolerates dry or moist soil conditions.

Description

Edible Uses

Seeds are cooked and used as a piñole. Young leaves and shoots are gathered in spring and eaten as cooked greens.

Traditional Uses

Caution: Fresh leaves are considered poisonous. The young leaves are boiled in 2 or 3 changes of water then eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy outdoors in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a perfectly drained soil in full sun. Plants resent root disturbance.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse; germination should occur within 3 weeks. Pot seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, to protect the root system, then plant out in summer. Division in spring may also be possible.

Other Uses

None known

References (4)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 543
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew