trefle.io · Taken Mar 8, 2021 by Antonio López Rodríguez (cc-by-sa)
Apiaceae
Shepherd's-needle
Scandix pecten-veneris
Also known as Scandix, Devil's comb, Venus comb, Wylia pecten-veneris
Native Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Shepherd'S Needle · Wildflower · Annual Herb · Apiaceae · Pollinator Plant · Meadow Plant · Edible Herb · Mediterranean · Heirloom · Self-Seeding
Shepherd's-needle is a slender, fast-growing annual herb of disturbed ground, meadows, and arable fields that requires very little care once established in a sunny, well-drained spot. It has a long history of edible and medicinal use in Mediterranean traditions, and its delicate white umbel flowers attract pollinators. Sow directly into the garden in spring and allow it to self-seed for successive generations.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water lightly; allow soil to dry somewhat between waterings as it tolerates drier conditions · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7.5–8
- Temperature
- -20°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 5a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 6 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Alabama, Albania, Algeria, Argentina Northeast, Arizona, Austria, Baleares, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Canary Is., Chile Central, Corse, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, District Of Columbia, East Aegean Is.
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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