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Herbaceous Perennial

Sium sisarum

skirret

A herbaceous perennial that was a popular root vegetable before potatoes where introduced into Britain. The white roots are harvested when the plant is dormant (autumn to early spring) and taste like a mixture of sweet carrots and parsnips. It can also also be used as an ornamental plant, with umbels of small white flowers in summer

Other common names

crummock
jellico
see moresardia

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Apiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe E Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moisture-retentive, deep, fertile soil in a sunny position. Water during dry spells if roots are to be harvested and eaten. Lift and divide clumps when dormant (between November and March), replanting some sections and keeping the rest to eat

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back stems before lifting to harvest roots, or in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to stem and bulb eelworm. Roots may be eaten by voles

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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