Apium filiforme
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Partial shade
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. Plants probably prefer a rich moist soil with some shade in the summer. This species is sometimes known as A. prostratum filiforme, but most botanists now separate it from A. prostratum and recognize it as a distinct species, A. filiforme.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Germination can take a month or longer. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring.
Edible uses
Leaves and stems - raw or cooked. The seed is used as a flavouring.
Habitat
By the coast and occasionally inland in lowland areas, Kermaduc, North, South and Stewart Islands.
Native range
New Zealand.