Orobanchaceae
Melampyrum sylvaticum
Melampyrum sylvaticum
Also known as Melampyrum alpestre, Melampyrum sylvaticum f. versicolor, Melampyrum nanum, Melampyrum sylvaticum var. bicolor
Native Plants · Hemiparasite · Woodland · Wildflower · European · Part Shade · Specialist · Rare · Melampyrum · Habitat Restoration
Small cow-wheat is a hemiparasitic annual wildflower of European woodland understories, requiring the presence of specific host plant roots to thrive — making it very challenging to cultivate outside its natural habitat. It prefers part shade and consistently moist, humus-rich soils in naturalistic or woodland garden settings. This plant is best suited to experienced gardeners attempting habitat restoration projects.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Keep soil evenly moist; water moderately and avoid waterlogging · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil pH
- 4–4.5
- Cycle
- Perennial
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Spacing
- 8 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Flowers
- No
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Poland
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle
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