table of contents
Introduction
Alexanders has a fascinating past, used as food and medicine since Roman times.
Once called “parsley of Alexandria,” people grew this herb in gardens for years. But then celery became more popular. Even so, Alexanders still grows near the sea today.
What makes Alexanders special is its ability to create aromatic oils. These oils have a strong, sweet smell that attracts many pollinating insects.
This happens because it’s part of the Apiaceae plant family. This family is famous for making fragrant oils.
Pliny, a Roman naturalist from the first century AD, called Alexanders “Smyrnium” because it smelled like myrrh.
Scientific Name
Family
Apiaceae
Botanical Description of Alexanders
This tall plant can grow up to 1.5 meters in height and produces greenish-yellow flowers arranged in umbrella-shaped clusters. The flowers emit a strong, myrrh-like scent. The leaves are bright green and have toothed edges, arranged in groups of three at the end of the leaf stalk. The fruit is round and has ridges, and when fully ripened, it turns blackish in color.
Status
Biennial. Mediterranean native.
Habitat and Distribution
You can find this Mediterranean plant in many places. It grows near the coast, on sea cliffs, and along roadsides. It also does well in old ruins, hedges, banks, and quarries. The plant comes from Asia Minor, Syria, and the Canary Islands. People have brought it to the British Isles, where it now grows naturally.
Parts Used for Food
Leaves, stalks, fruit and root.
Harvest Time
Spring to summer.
Food Uses of Alexanders
Alexanders, once called “black potherb,” has black, spicy seeds. It often grows in old monastery ruins where monks grew it as a garden herb.
Cook the leaves and stalks for soups, broths, and stews. Use the flowers as spice and decoration in salads. Eat the buds pickled or fried. Add the root to casseroles and stews like parsnip.
This plant is a valuable source of protein, carbohydrates, and fatty acids, which are all found in its fruits.
Furthermore, the plant is rich in flavonoids and other bioactive compounds that offer a range of health benefits.
Alexanders Recipes
Herbal Medicine Uses of Alexanders
People called Alexanders “black potherb” due to its black, spicy seeds. It often grows in old monastery ruins where monks grew it as a garden herb.
Cook the leaves and stalks for soups, broths, and stews. Use the flowers as spice and decoration in salads. Eat the buds pickled or fried. Add the root to casseroles and stews like parsnip.
In the past, people often bundled the stalks of this plant and utilised them as cattle fodder or as a source of fuel.
Safety Note
There is not much data on this plant’s toxicity. Talk to a health advisor before using it as medicine.
References
Guarrera, P. M. & Savo, V. (2016) Wild food plants used in traditional vegetable mixtures in Italy. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. [Online] 185202–234.
Bertoli, A. et al. (2004) Volatile constituents of different parts (roots, stems and leaves) of Smyrnium olusatrum L. Flavour and Fragrance Journal. [Online] 19 (6), 522–525.
Thanks for the info on Alexanders. I knew they were edible but never knew which bit to eat!
Doesn’t the law abut gathering wild flowers apply to these? I’m never sure about where we stand with foraging.
Please read:
Really straightforward information what I would like is:
1. More photos doing know what to forage
2 maybe a map highlighting where the item grows – maybe not specific but which areas. Be fun while on holiday to see what could be foraged or got which I. Can’t at home. Or just see what I can get at home.
It may b helpful to know what type of areas they grow in
Hi Alex – Photos slightly more hard as they take a lot of time. For distribution use the BSBI Distribution Maps.
Hi Tracey – These are plant profiles. They take long enough to prepare, so I would advise you look the plant up in a wild flower book. The one I recommend is Harraps Wild Flowers.
I’m sure I have this growing in my garden or should I say overtaking my garden. The only cause I have to doubt is that you mention eating the roots but as far as I can tell there is no solid root. It is strong smelling and strong taste as expected as I have tried the stems. Could this be something different?
Once the previous year’s Alexander’s have seeded, you should find dried stalks ending in an umbrella shape, with dried, black seeds held by thin stalks which look like bony fingers!
I use all of the plant, and with the seeds, I whizz them through the coffee grinder and use as one would use black pepper. They are complex and aromatic, going with anything from a plain steak to curries of all types. The coastal areas of Cornwall are good foraging places. Rgs. Steve.
I live on the West Somerset coast and I am surrounded by Alexanders growing just everywhere. From January on I have taken a bracing cliff top walk to gather a good carrier bag full of the early pale green leaves and the tender stems which I peel before cooking.
As the plants mature I add the flower buds and stew all parts in a pan of salted water, strain, cool and store in the fridge, this keeps well for several days.
Most mornings I treat myself to a yummy, Alexanders filled omelette made with free range eggs and topped with cottage cheese and a twist of black pepper. Sets me up for the day!
I am enjoying all this wonderful new information on wild food, thank you.
This spring my horse injured his check ligament .As part of his therapy he was walked in hand for 20 mins . As we walked he foraged and by far his most longed for plant was Alexander’s . I know that it’s believed that horses will forage instinctively for plants to supply nutrients that they need at a certain time. I wonder if there was something in Alexander’s that his body needed to aid healing. Or maybe he just liked the taste ,or both!
Hi Adrienne – I don’t know if there is anything specific in Alexanders that your horse might have needed, although other animals are deeply instinctive. For more on this a fascinating book is Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom.
I just wondered if there was a specific part of the plant that would be good to look at to be able to tell it apart from hemlock water dropwort. Any tips would be fab, I’m not quite ready to forage for this one until I can confidently eliminate the other one.
Thanks
Hi Robin – Alexanders – very helpful details. I can’t see anything on how the roots can be used – any advice please?
Many thanks,
Greg
I’ve had similar concerns. Most recently I have noticed that the flowers are yellow and I think hemlock flowers are white but I need to find more criteria.
In France I know you can take foraged plants and fungi to the pharmacy to be identified but obviously can’t go there at the moment.
Alexanders are distinct from hemlock (both kinds). Their leaves are far less feathery, they have purple veined bracts at the base of the leaf stalks, the flowers are yellow whereas those on both hemlocks are white. Hemlock also has red dots on the main stem, hemlock water dropwort does not have the red dots, but is quite distinctive, tends to have a large thick stem, feathery leaves, none of the purple veined bracts, and in my experience always grows in streams or rivers or water filled ditches. Hope this helps.
Does anyone have any information on identifying this by the seeds and/or dead skeleton of the plant? I’m pretty sure I’ve found a lot of this and would love to use the seeds this year but am not going to take any chances on it unless I can make a definitive ID. I can’t find much information about identifying Apiaceae by their seeds alone but I have read many of the seeds are distinct enough for it to be done.
Love this article on Alexander’s, I grew some in pots along with my geraniums ?????Inadvertently ( mistook the seeds I had collected in Suffolk back last year for something else!) but they grew abundantly and looked beautiful! Recently clearing out the pots tidying up for winter I “plant app’d” them & too healthy looking to pass up I tried the leaves & the roots in a broth fabulous.. I thought the raw root tasted bit like celeriac but with a kick & cooked rather like parsnips & the leaves celery/ coriander!! Yum
how to distinginguish between alexanders and HWD? before flowers.
thanks.
Hello Mr Harford,
I just bought your great little booklet on alexanders, and I will read it carefully, as I have been obsessed with this plant. I live on the Greek island of Ikaria, and just on our land alone, we have literally thousands of alexanders. This plant has been completely forgotten by the locals. To them, it is good horse and goat fodder at best. Sheep will only take a bite or two. Cows eat it when nothing else is available.
I have successfully experimented with many recipes, but there is one untold story.
I read somewhere that the unripe (green) seeds can be pickled (and even be made a spoon sweet, as they call it in Greece), but I have not found any details as to how to do so. Have you (or any of your commenters here) got any idea if these green seeds should be boiled for a couple of seconds (like the flower buds) before pickling, or if they need to be kept in a brine solution first? They are not bitter like capers, so I guess they might just need a couple of seconds of boiling. Or not even that?
Your imput will be much appreciated.
Alexander-reviving greetings from Greece
Thanks for info Robin. One of my favourites, as I said before. I had leaves chopped up in salad today, and stalks in stirfry yesterday
I have just discovered this plant. It is abundant here on the Isle of Wight especially along the Military Road on the “back of the Island”.
I will try eating a little tomorrow. Like any new edible mushroom I find, I will excersise caution by eating a little and waiting 24 hours just in case of any adverse effect.
It grows everywhere every country lane best collected away from roads in the spring taste is similar to celery slightly sweeter stronger flavour finely
chopped shoots as round as a pencil great in a salad introduced to this country by the Romans 2000years ago allegedly used as a vegetable and it’s free I have eaten it in the past
In other uses you mentioned use as a fuel how is it processed for use as fuel. I’m wondering if it could be used in a small cooking stove whilst out camping.