trefle.io · Taken Jun 9, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)
Fabaceae
Earth-chestnut
Lathyrus tuberosus
Also known as Earthnut, Lathyrus tuberculatus, Pignut, Hardy truffle
Edibles & Herbs · Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Climbing · Edible-Tuber · Pink-Flowers · Perennial · Vining · Cottage-Garden · Wildflower · Legume · Pollinator-Friendly · Heritage-Vegetable
Earth-chestnut is a charming climbing perennial with vivid pink to magenta flowers and edible tuberous roots prized historically as a food source. Plant it in a sunny to partly shaded spot with support for its scrambling stems, and water regularly during the growing season. Cut stems back after flowering and divide tubers every few years to maintain vigor.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly until soil is evenly moist, then allow the top inch to dry before watering again · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 4.8–7.6
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 5 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Purple
- Foliage
- Green · Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Illinois, Iran
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Sources: trefle, usda
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